College basketball’s 2017 postseason continued last night as more Conference Tournaments got underway.
CROSSROADS LEAGUE
WAKEUP CALL FOR TOP SEED – The top seeded BETHEL (IN) COLLEGE PILOTS (Riverboat Pilots) got almost more than they could handle from the 8 seeds – the GRACE COLLEGE LANCERS. The Lancers’ offense matched the Pilots blow for blow in the 1st Half, making the score 54-54 headed into the locker room. After the break Bethel College gradually put some distance between themselves and Grace College for a Century Club-level 102-92 victory. Gage Ott led the Pilots with 25 points, while teammate Clay Yeo notched 21.
OVERTIME FOR NUMBER TWO – The League’s 2nd seeded INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY WILDCATS – the defending National Champions, by the way – needed OVERTIME to dispatch the 7th seeded HUNTINGTON UNIVERSITY FORESTERS. The Wildcats actually trailed the Foresters 49-40 at the Half but came back to force OT with an 88-88 tie. In the extra session IWU won it 109-100 led by Lane Mahurin’s 30 points and 8 rebounds.
FIVE OVER FOUR UPSET – The 5 seeds – the SPRING ARBOR UNIVERSITY COUGARS – faced the 4th seeded TAYLOR UNIVERSITY TROJANS in this game. By the break the Cougars trailed the favorite Trojans 39-33 but went on to win this Hardcourt Epic by a final score of 75-73. Zach Medendorp’s 27 points led the way for Spring Arbor University’s thrilling upset.
COUGAR ON COUGAR VIOLENCE – The 3rd seeded UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS hosted the 6 seeds – the MOUNT VERNON NAZARENE UNIVERSITY COUGARS. The University of Saint Francis kept things under control in this battle, leading 34-28 at Halftime and going on to win the game 68-56 as the two Cougar teams perfectly duplicated their 1st Half scoring. Kegan Comer topped USF’s scorers with the 18 points that he contributed.
APPALACHIAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
TEN OVER SEVEN UPSET – This was one of just three games in the AAC Tournament’s Opening Round last night as the 10 seeds – the BRYAN COLLEGE LIONS – surprised the 7th seeded TRUETT- MCCONNELL COLLEGE BEARS. The Lions put the Bears on Upset Alert by the break, leading them 36-26 and closing the deal with a 72-67 final count. Oteriah Lee racked up 19 points for the victors while his teammate Brice Cusick registered a Double Double of 12 points and 12 rebounds.
HARD DAY’S KNIGHT – In this game the 8th seeded SAINT ANDREWS UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS clashed with the 9 seeds – the MILLIGAN COLLEGE BUFFALOES. The opening Half ended with the Knights clinging to a 38-37 edge, but after the break Saint Andrews University put more and more distance between themselves and the Buffaloes. The Knights earned an 88-76 victory led by Connor Zinaich, who fell just short of a Double Double with 19 points and 9 boards.
NO EASY STING – The 6 seeds – the ALLEN UNIVERSITY YELLOW JACKETS – took the floor against the 11th seeded POINT UNIVERSITY SKYHAWKS, who were expected to be very easy prey given their 2-28 Regular Season record. The Skyhawks put a scare into the Yellow Jackets fans with a 47-42 Halftime lead, but Allen University stayed focused for a 74-69 comeback win. Demetrius Richardson slammed in THIRTY-THREE points for the Yellow Jackets.
