Ferris State Edges Northern State To Tie Record- Win Title!

The Ferris State Bulldogs got all they could handle from the Wolves of Northern State but ultimately survived a late lane violation on a free throw and a missed 3-pointer at the buzzer for a 71-69 victory in front of a standing room only crowd at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls.  Neither team had played in a title game in hoops prior to Saturday.
 With the victory Ferris State won the first title for the school in any sport.  Division II Player Of The Year and Tournament Most Outstanding Player Zach Hankins scored 19 points to lead the Bulldogs- only two other Ferris State (Mich.) players scored in double figures on the day.  Peter Firlik scored 12- and- Markese Mayfield added 11 for the Bulldogs who went 38-1 on the season trying Winona State for the most wins ever in a DII campaign.  Mayfield and Jenkins led the team with six and five rebounds respectively- while Mayfield and Drew Cushingberry each recoded three assists.  The Bulldogs shot 47 percent as a team- while shooting 38 percent (3-8) from the 3-point line.  They shot at a 73 percent clip (16-22) from the free throw line- and- had 10 assists to go along with 12 turnovers.
 The Wolves season ended a 36-4.  Also having four players score in double figures in the loss.  Carter Evans led the way with 20 points- the two headed center of Logan Doyle and Darin Peterka each scored 14- while Ian Smith scored 12.  Peterka and Doyle each secured seven rebounds- while Peterka also tallied six assists.  Northern State (SD) shot 49 percent in the game- they shot 25 percent (1-4) from the 3-point line. At the free throw line the Wolves shot 67 percent (12-18) on the afternoon.  The Wolves won the rebounding battle 33-27.  They had 11 assists and turned the ball over 18 times.
 The Wolves jumped out to an early 9-2 lead in the games first three minutes powered by Smith.  After a pair of 5-0 runs each team would settle into the contest.  Halfway thru the opening half it would be a five point lead (23-18) in favor of the Wolves.  The Bulldogs would battle back and tie the game at 29 at the 6:15 mark of the first half after a pair of free throws by Jaylin McFadden.  Three minutes later Ferris State would take a 33-31 lead after a layup by Noah King.  It would be 39-37 in favor of the Bulldogs heading into the locker room.
 After the Wolves scored the first bucket of the second half it would be a 6-0 run by the Bulldogs that gave them a 45-39 lead early in the second half.  With 10:23 to go in the contest a Carter Evans bucket would cut the Ferris State lead to one (55-54) The two teams would battle back and forth until Peterka would tie the game at 61 at the 6:06 mark.  The two teams would trade baskets, then a Peterka layup after a McFadden free throw would give the Wolves a brief 65-64 lead with 4:27 to go. The Bulldogs would grab the lead right back on a Firlik layup with 4:07 to go that made it 66-65.  The next four points would go the way of the Wolves as they would take a 69-66 lead after a Evans dunk at the 2:55 mark.  Firlik would hit a pair of free throws to cut it to one at 2:08 mark.  After a Northern turnover Hankins would give the Bulldogs the lead for good at the other end with a layup at the 1:31 mark.  Neither team would score in the next 1:21 until the wild ending.  With 10 seconds left Mayfield who shot 80 percent from the free throw line on the season was at the free throw line for a pair.  The first one looked to give the Bulldogs a two point lead but was waved off as Mayfield stepped on the line.  He calmly hit the second to make it 71-69 and the Wolves had a chance to win it.  Peterka had a chance to win it with a 3-pointer with two seconds left but it was off the mark and the Bulldogs would celebrate the first title in school history.
Final Elite Eight Results:
Tuesday's Quarterfinals:
#1 Ferris State 87 #8 Barry 84
#4 West Texas A and M 85 #5 Le Moyne 73
#2 Queens 100 #7 Cal Baptist 94
#3 Northern State 79 #6 East Stroudsburg 71
Thursday's Semifinals:
#1 Ferris State 85 #4 West Texas A and M 79
#3 Northern State 105 #2 Queens 99 (2 OT)
Saturday's Championship Game:
#1 Ferris State 71 #3 Northern State 69

Cream Rises To The Top In Sioux Falls.

The eight team field in Division II was reseeded prior to Tuesday's quarterfinal action. Those seeds proved to be correct. As the top four seeds advanced to Thursday's semifinals at the Sanford Pentagon.  One game was closer than expected, as top seeded Ferris State edged eighth seeded Barry 87-84 in Tuesday's second contest.  In the first game of the day #4 West Texas A and M was a 87-83 winner over LeMoyne.  #2 seed Queens outlasted #7 Cal Baptist by a score of 100-94.  In the nightcap it was #3 seed Northern State who was a 79-71 winner over #6 East Stroudsburg.
So here are Thursday's matchups for the right to play in Saturday's title game.
The lines presented by JuanBernalSportsBooks.com:
#1 Ferris State  85 #4 West Texas A and M 79
#3 Northern State 105 #2 Queens (NC) 99 (2 OT)

Seventh Heaven! Bucs Win South Region.

The Barry Buccaneers used a monster game from two time SSC Player Of The Year Elvar Fridriksson who scored 29 points- and- Sunday Dech added 14 points to go along with nine rebounds in a 79-72 win over Eckerd that punched the Bucs ticket to Sioux Falls on Tuesday afternoon. It was the Bucs second regional championship in the past three years. Also Barry became the second consecutive seventh seed from the Sunshine State Conference to advance to the Elite Eight in as many years. Rollins did the same a year ago. With the victory Barry improved to 23-8 on the year- while Eckerd saw its season end with a 26-7 mark.
  Barry jumped out to a 15 point lead (40-25) with 3:12 to go in the opening half.  That lead was cut to nine (46-37) at the half. After the Bucs scored the first bucket of the second stanza the Tritons ran off a 11-0 run to knot the game at 48.  The Tritons looked to be in good shape as Barry went without a field goal for 6:47 and Eckerd took a nine point lead with 13:04 to go. Fridriksson would score all 14 points including four 3-pointer's in a span of 2:30 minutes that saw Barry go on a 14-3 run. At the 10:25 mark it was a 62-60 Eckerd lead.  The game would go back and forth for several minutes. Eckerd would take a 71-70 lead with 3:10 to go. The game would be again knotted at 72 at the 2:07 mark. With 1:07 to go a three-point play by Sawyer Glick would give Barry the lead for good.
 The Bucs will be the eight seed in Sioux Falls and play top seeded Ferris State at the Sanford Pentagon. Tip time on Tuesday 3/20 is set for 330 PM.
 South Region Results:
Quarterfinals:
#8 Florida Southern 98 #1 Morehouse 97 (OT)
#4 Eckerd 85 #5 Valdosta State 81
#7 Barry 90 #2 West Florida 73
#3 Claiflin 72 #6 Clark Atlanta 61
Semifinals:
#7 Barry 89 #3 Claiflin 64
#4 Eckerd 90 #8 Florida Southern 77
Final:
#7 Barry 79 #4 Eckerd 72
Tuesday's Elite Eight Games (At Sioux Falls, South Dakota:)
#4 West Texas A@M (31-3) vs #5 Le Moyne (27-6) 1 PM
#1 Ferris State (35-1) vs #8 Barry (23-8) 3:30 PM
#2 Queens (NC) (31-3) vs #7 Cal Baptist (27-5)  7 PM
#3 Northern State (34-3) vs #6 East Stroudsburg 9:30 PM

SSC Takes Center Stage Tuesday Night!

For the second consecutive season the Sunshine State Conference will have a team represented in the NCAA Elite Eight in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The only question now is whether it would be the upstart fourth seeded Eckerd Tritons or the regular season conference champ and seventh seeded Barry Buccaneers. Eckerd squeaked out an 85-81 victory over Valdosta State in the four-five game on Saturday- while Barry who is the seventh seed was a 90-73 winner over second seeded West Florida. Eckerd knocked off eighth seeded Florida Southern who rallied for a 98-97 overtime win over host Morehouse the previous day. The Tritons were a 90-77 winner over the Mocs. While seventh seeded Barry who is seeking to be the second seven seed in as many years (Rollins a year ago) to advance to the Elite Eight in Sioux Falls,South Dakota. Barry raced out to a 30 point halftime lead and cruised to a 89-64 win over third seeded Claiflin Sunday.
All games Played at Morehouse:
3/10: South Region Quarterfinals
#8 Florida Southern 98 #1 Morehouse 97 (OT)
#4 Eckerd 85 #5 Valdosta State 81
#7 Barry 90 #7 West Florida 73
#3 Califlin 72 #6 Clark Atlanta 61
3/11: South Region Semifinals:
#4 Eckerd 90 #8 Florida Southern 77
#7 Barry 89 #3 Claiflin 64
South Regional Final (Winner Advances to Elite Eight:)
The line presented by JuanBernalSportsBooks.com:
#4 Eckerd -4.5 vs #7 Barry

Five Good and Five Bad Things Tars 2017-18.

The Rollins Tars had an up and down season in 2017-18. Returning the core of a team that advanced to the Elite Eight a year ago things did not quite go as planned.
The Good:
1. The Tars saw themselves on top of the league after a 64-63 win over Lynn on 1/27.
2. Jeff Merton had not one but two buzzer beating game winners. First against Tampa on 1/10 and then a little more than two weeks later against Lynn.
3. Rollins got a career high 36 points from Sam Philpott as they won a 117-111 double overtime thriller at Jenkins FieldHouse against Florida Southern.
4. The Tars won the regular season finale against Saint Leo and with a little help from Florida Tech on the final Saturday of the season the Tars scored a home game in the opening round of the SSC Tournament.
5. The Tars used the home court in the opening round of the SSC Tournament to score a first round victory over Nova Southeastern.
The bad:
1. The Tars limped to the finish, losing six straight before knocking off NSU in the SSC Tournament First Round.
2. Rollins was bounced from the SSC tournament by Barry in the SSC Semifinals Saturday.
3. The Tars six game losing slide began with a loss to Embry-Riddle. The Eagles would not qualify for the SSC Tournament.
4. The four seniors had a rough end to the season. Jack Fleming was injured in the final game and was limited- Sam Philpott was injured and the injury not coincidentally coincided with the Tars losing slide. He was never the same despite returning for the Saint Leo game and both games in the tournament. Deion Clark saw his career come to an end earlier than he hoped after last season's trip to the Elite Eight. Merton had a up and down season as well.
5. Rollins was in first place after a 64-63 late in January but could not put together a solid February to back it up.
NCAA South Region Hosted by Morehouse. Games to be played on 3/10-3/11 and 3/13. Winner advances to the Elite Eight in Sioux Falls,South Dakota:
Florida Southern 98 Morehouse 97 (OT)
Eckerd 85 Valdosta State 81
Barry 90 West Florida 73
Claiflin 72 Clark Atlanta 61
Sunday Semis (Lines Presented by JuanBernalSportsBooks.com:
#7 Barry +4 @ #3 Claiflin
#8 Florida Southern +3 @ #4 Eckerd

Cold Shooting Rollins Outlasted By Barry.

The Rollins Tars fell behind 28-7  midway thru the opening half, got to within five late in the second half but could not get over the hump in a 77-62 loss to Barry in the Sunshine State Conference Semifinals on Saturday at Jenkins Field House in Lakeland. The Bucs will advance to Sunday's 1 PM Championship game and take on second seeded Eckerd who knocked off Florida Southern 76-70.  The Tars finished the year at 16-14.
  Elvar Fridriksson led the Buccaneers with 18 points and 10 assists in the victory.  Daniel Mortensen and Sunday Dech also had 18.  Kooper Glick added 10 for Barry.  The Buccaneers shot 50 percent on the day- they shot 42 percent (11-26) from the 3-point line.  Barry shot 80 percent (16-20) from the free throw line.  The Bucs crushed Rollins on the boards 37-20.  The Bucs had 17 assists and advanced to the finals despite 23 turnovers.
  Rollins was led by Eric Castaneda with 17 points and five steals- while Jakobi Bonner and Second Team All SSC Performer Jeff Merton added 15.  Sam Philpott was also named Second Team All-SSC earlier in the week but was held to just six points Saturday.  The cold shooting Tars shot 34 percent from the floor on the day- they shot just 13 percent (3-23) from the 3-point line. The Tars shot 81 percent (25-31) from the free throw line.  Rollins had seven assists and 13 turnovers in the defeat.
  The game would be tied at seven in the early going. Barry would then go on a 21-0 run that would give them the big advantage after a Dech 3-pointer with 9:12 in the half.  The Tars would rally though and get to within five (38-33) as Bonner and Parker Davis would provide a spark off the Rollins bench.  It would be a five point Rollins deficit at the intermission.
  Bonner led the Tars with 11 points in the opening half- while Castenda scored eight- and- Merton added seven.  The Tars shot 42 percent in the opening half- 20 percent (2-10) from the 3-point line.  Rollins shot 82 percent (9-11) at the free throw line in the first stanza.
  Barry was led by Dech with 13 points in the half.  Fridriksson and Glick each added six.  Barry shot 39 percent from the floor- 32 percent (6-19) from the 3-point line- and- 73 percent (8-11) from the free throw line.  They doubled up Rollins on the boards 22-11 in the opening half.  The Bucs had eight assists and eight turnovers in the first 20 minutes.
  Rollins would come out cold in the second half as Barry would go on a 7-0 run before a pair of Connor McKim free throws cut the lead back to 10 (45-35.)  After a Merton steal and basket at the 13:02 mark Rollins found themselves within five (45-40.)  Barry would then quickly go on a 9-0 run to take a 54-40 lead with 10:29 to go.  Rollins would get the lead back to single digits (56-47) after Castaneda drained a 3-pointer at the 9:26 mark.  After a pair of Castaneda free throws and a Bonner layup Rollins was within five (56-51) with 6:59 to go.  As they did all day long Barry would have the answer as Mortensen knocked down a 3-pointer and Kooper Glick converted the old fashioned three-point play.  Philpott would get Rollins back to within single digits 62-53 with 4:59 to go but that is as close as they would get.
 Saturday would be the final game in the outstanding careers of four Rollins seniors.  Jack Fleming- Merton- Philpott- and- Deion Clark. The group were key cogs in the Rollins group that got to the Elite Eight last season. They were also Sunshine State Conference Regular Season and Tournament Champions last season.
Other SSC Semifinal:
#2 Eckerd 76 #3 Florida Southern 70
SSC Final Sunday 1 PM (At Jenkins Field House in Lakeland. Lines Presented by JuanBernalSportsBooks.com:
#1 Barry -4.5 vs #2 Eckerd

Tars-Barry Clash In SSC Semis Saturday.

The fourth seeded Rollins Tars and top seeded Barry Buccaneers will battle in the semifinals of the Sunshine State Conference Tournament on Saturday at Jenkins Field House on the campus of Florida Southern. Tip time is set for 12 PM and the winner will take on the winner of Eckerd and the host Mocs on Sunday at 1 PM. You can catch the Tars on the website at RollinsSports.com with Robert Segal and Jim "Shooter" Ferro on the call.
 Rollins (16-13) advanced on Wednesday evening with a hard fought 78-75 win over Nova Southeastern at Warden Arena. Jeff Merton had a key steal with 10 seconds to play and Connor McKim once again came thru in the clutch for the Tars, as he hit what proved to be the game winning layup nine seconds earlier. McKim hit a pair of free throws to stretch the margin to three points and Rollins escaped.  All five Rollins starters scored in double figures in the victory led by Merton with 18. McKim added 14- Sam Philpott scored 13- Eric Castaneda added 11- and- Deion Clark posted 10 in the victory.
 Rollins comes into Saturdays contest averaging 83.5 points per game- while they give up 81.7 on the defensive end. Philpott leads the season box score averaging 18.1 points per night- Merton scores 15.8 per game- while McKim and Castaneda each put up 11.5 per night.  Clark also averages in double figures at 10.9 per contest.  Clark leads the team in rebounding at 4.2 per night- while McKim dishes out 3.7 assists per game.
  Barry comes in with a record of 19-7 on the year. The top seeded Bucs defeated eighth seeded Florida Tech 102-83 on Wednesday night.  SSC Player Of The Year Elvar Fridriksson led the Bucs with 23 points and seven assists in the victory.  Marko Tomic added 16- Sawyer Glick added 15- while Kooper Glick and Sunday Dech each had 14.  Barry averaged 89.5 points a game- while they allowed 79.6 per night.  Fridriksson leads the team in scoring at 20.1 points per game- to go along with a team leading 6.15 assists per night.  Sawyer Glick puts up 14.8 points per game- Sunday Dech averages 13.2 per contest- and- Daniel Mortensen scores 11.9 per contest.  Mortensen leads the team in rebounding at 6.9 a night- while Dech is right behind him at 6.8 rebounds per night.
 The teams split the two meetings during the season, which each winning at home.  Barry won 103-91 in Miami on 12/2- while Rollins defeated the Bucs 94-82 in Winter Park on 1/20.
The line presented by JuanBernalSportsBooks.com: Barry by 7.5
Other SSC Semifinal Saturday (also at Jenkins Field House on Campus of Florida Southern:)
# 2 Eckerd +1.5 vs #3 Florida Southern