|
03.01.05 - The 14th-ranked
Taylor University Trojans (23-9) had just enough time to pull off
the come-from-behind 56-55 win over the 7th-ranked
Foresters (22-10) in the Championship Game of the
Mid-Central Conference Tournament. The Foresters owned an 11-point
lead at 50-39 with just under eight minutes to play and looked to
have things under control. The Trojans had other thoughts as they
stormed all the way back and took their only lead of the second half
on a trey by Robbie Beucler with :04 left on the clock. HC inbounded the ball to mid-court and called timeout to set up its
final shot. The Foresters got the ball into Alex Kock’s hands and
he got around his defender to get off a shot at the free throw
line. His shot was too hard off the back of the rim giving Taylor
the upset win and an automatic berth in the NAIA Division II Men’s
Basketball Tournament in Branson, Missouri. Taylor’s Doug Bell led
all scorers with 20 points in the game. Eric Ford and Beucler each
added 11. For HC, Kock finished with a double-double with
14 points and 13 rebounds. Steve Snider added 12 points and Doug
Sheckler had 10 off the bench. The Foresters, because of their #7
ranking in the NAIA's final poll, will receive an at-large bid to the National Tournament.
The field of 32 teams will be released by the NAIA tomorrow.
Box Score |
