TOURNAMENT ACTION CONTINUES IN COLLEGE BASKETBALL

*** NCAA DIVISION TWO ***

ROUND TWO RESUMES – Yesterday the 2nd Round continued in D2. The 4th seeded STONEHILL COLLEGE SKYHAWKS did battle with their Region’s 8 seeds – the SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE UNIVERSITY PENMEN. The Penmen stunned the Skyhawks out of the gate and by Halftime had built up a 37-21 lead. Stonehill College came fighting back in the 2nd Half and forced Overtime with a 65-65 tie to end Regulation. In the extra session the Skyhawks won it by a tight score of 75-74. Adam Bramanti led Stonehill with 21 points.

RAILSPLITTERS ADVANCE – The LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY RAILSPLITTERS – the 1 seeds in their Region – took the court against the 4th seeded QUEENS UNIVERSITY OF CHARLOTTE ROYALS. The Railsplitters notched a 43-31 advantage over the Royals by the break. From there Lincoln Memorial University proceeded to blow out Queens U of Charlotte to the tune of 95-67. Gerel Simmons contributed 25 points to lead the Railsplitters in scoring.  

SEVEN SEED OVER THREE SEED – The Region’s 7 seeds – the LENOIR-RHYNE UNIVERSITY BEARS – found themselves facing the 3rd seeded WINGATE UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS for the right to move on to the next round. The Bears trailed the Bulldogs 31-30 at the midpoint but in the 2nd Half they came from behind and put an arm’s length between them and Wingate. Lenoir-Rhyne University won the game by a final score of 76-69 led by Keenan Palmore’s Double- Double of 22 points and 11 rebounds. 

DANGER ZONE – This game pitted the 4th seeded TARLETON STATE TEXANS against the Region’s 8 seeds – the LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY CHAPARRALS. The Chaparrals were fresh off their Round One upset of their Region’s 1 seed and scared the Texans’ faithful with a 33-30 Halftime lead. After the intermission Tarleton State regrouped and rallied for a 69-63 victory. Michael Hardge led the way for the Texans with 18 points. 

MADE IT MA! TOP OF THE HILL! – The 2 seeds – the WEST LIBERTY STATE HILLTOPPERS – found themselves facing the 6th seeded VIRGINIA STATE TROJANS. When all of the dust had finally settled in this contest the Hilltoppers had eliminated the Trojans with extreme prejudice: the final tally was West Liberty State 90  Virginia State 69. The Hilltoppers move on to the next round.

SERIOUS SWASHBUCKLING – Up next the 3rd seeded BARRY UNIVERSITY BUCCANEERS collided with the 7th seeded UNION (TN) UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS. The Buccaneers got on top of the Bulldogs by a score of 39-31 to end the opening Half and pretty much maintained that distance throughout the 2nd Half, ultimately winning the game 74-65. Yunio Barrueta led the victors with his 19 points. 

ANOTHER ONE SEED ADVANCES – The UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA IN HUNTSVILLE CHARGERS are the 1 seeds in their Region. Yesterday they took on the 5th seeded STILLMAN COLLEGE TIGERS. The Chargers focused on stifling defense at first and by Halftime led the Tigers 30-26. After the break UA-Huntsville squeezed out a little more separation from Stillman College for an 81-71 triumph. Greg Gardner cultivated 23 points for the Chargers. 

INSTANT CLASSIC – The 2nd seeded SAINT ANSELM COLLEGE HAWKS went mano-a- mano against the 6 seeds – the SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS COLLEGE SPARTANS. The game was so tight that by Halftime the Hawks had eked out a mere 41-40 edge over the Spartans. The 2nd Half was just as fiercely competitive but Saint Anselm College had managed a 77-73 victory. Mike McCahey tossed in 29 points to lead the Hawks.