JACKSON, Tenn. - 3/3/2007 - Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ University Bulldogs defeated cross-town rival Lambuth University 119-115 in overtime in the semifinals of the TranSouth Conference Tournament. With the win, No. 12 Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ improved to 23-8 on the season. Lambuth, the No. 18 ranked team in the NAIA, dropped to 25-7 overall.
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ, seeded No. 2 in the tournament, also earns the right to play top seeded Crichton College in the tournament championship game. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ has won the past two TranSouth Tournament Championships and five tournament titles in the 10-year history of the league.
Lambuth started the game on fire and it looked like it could be a long night for the Bulldogs. The Eagles made their first three 3-pointers of the game and jumped out to their biggest lead of the game at 20-10, just five minutes into the game. However, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ settled down and Lambuth began to cool off as Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ closed out the final 15 minutes of the first half with a 44-23 run. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ led by 11 points, 54-43, at the half.
The second half, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ increased the lead to 12 for their biggest lead of the game at 55-43. Lambuth then started making shots. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ answered the Lambuth surge for a while held an 11 point advantage, 67-56, with 13:47 left in regulation. But Lambuth kept coming. Ivan Jenkings, the TranSouth Conference Player of the Year, had just seven points at halftime, but exploded for 28 in the second half and overtime period to help spur the Lambuth rally. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ who played just seven players on the night, started to show signs of fatigue as Lambuth kept making shots. Then with 4:16 left in the game, the Eagles completed the comeback to take an 87-86 lead. Lambuth pushed the lead to five points, 97-92 with 1:30 left in regulation and it seemed to be over for a very tired Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ squad. But Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ found a way to score six of the last seven points, including a basket by senior center Ben Frederick with eight seconds left to tie the game at 98-98. Lambuth’s Jeremy Weedle, a Jackson native, got off the final shot for Lambuth that rimmed out as the buzzer sounded.
Overtime saw both teams score baskets on the opening possession to tie the game at 100-100. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ then went up 104-100 and never trailed again. Freshman guard Tacuma Alexander made 14-of-16 free throws in the second half and overtime to seal the win for Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ.
This game featured six ties and nine lead changes. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ has now won seven in a row over Lambuth at home and claims the season series, two games to one.
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ shot 53-percent from the field, including 33-percent (5-15) from behind the arc. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ also managed 73-percent (38-52), including 31-of-41 in the second half. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ scored their season high of 119 points despite, not making a single three pointer in the second half or overtime.
Lambuth shot 47-percent from the field, including 57-percent in the second half and overtime. The Eagles also posted 39-percent from behind the arc, attempting 36 threes and making 14. Lambuth shot 69-percent (17-27) from the free throw line.
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ was led by Pierry Valmera with 24 points. Ben Frederick and Brian Lake added 22 points each, while freshman guard Tacuma Alexander posted a career high of 21 points in the game. Mack Bealim, who played 44 of the possible 45 minutes in the game for Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ added 14 points. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ committed just 11 turnovers in the game after averaging 25 turnovers versus Lambuth in the two regular season games.
Lambuth was led by Ivan Jenkins with a game-high 35 points, including 5-of-15 from behind the arc. Kierren Lovick and Jeremy Weddle added 20 points, while Foluke Tobin scored 14 points.
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ will be making their ninth NAIA National Tournament appearance in the past 10 years and fourth straight appearance. Despite the loss, Lambuth will appear in their second straight national tournament along with Crichton and Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ from the TranSouth Conference.
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ now advances to their third straight conference tournament title game in Memphis on Tuesday night, March 6 versus Crichton College. The battle of No. 1 and No.2 seeds will begin at 7:00 pm.
#DOGS#
| Steven Aldridge Phone: (731) 661-5027 |
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