Posted: Feb 28, 2016
SHREVEPORT, La. - Texas Lutheran took a six-point lead into the halftime lockeroom and held on late to take a hard-earned 80-77 victory over Colorado College in the championship game of the 2016 SCAC Men's Basketball Tournament Sunday at Centenary College's Gold Dome. Official Tournament Website
The championship is the second consecutive men's title for the Bulldogs and earns them the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.
HOW IT HAPPENED
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After a first half that saw 7 lead changes, Texas Lutheran never trailed in the second half. Colorado College cut the lead to 1 twice (51-50 at 12:10 and 53-52 at 11:29) but could never catch the Bulldogs.
- Both teams shot the ball very well. Clorado College outshot Texas Lutheran (53.1 percent to 48.3 percent) but TLU made 2 more field goals, including 1 more 3-pointer.
- Texas Lutheran outscored Colorado College 18-4 on second chance points and the Bulldogs' bench outscored CC, 20-9.
- A night after setting a new SCAC single-game tournament scoring record with 46 points, CC's Andrew Maddock picked up 3 early fouls and eventually fouled out with 8 points in 13 minutes of action.
TEXAS LUTHERAN STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Sterling Holmes: 17 points, 2 assists
- Blake Ray: 13 points, 4 rebounds
- Jordan Kouremetis: 13 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
- Zach Behr: 9 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists
COLORADO COLLEGE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- John Hatch: 23 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks
- James Lonergan: 20 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists
- Justin Berardino: 10 points, 11 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals
NOTABLES
- The all-tournament team consisted of Alan Sullivan of Austin College; Hatch and Maddock of Colorado College; and Kouremetis, Behr and Holmes of TLU.
- Holmes was named tournament MVP.
- This is the second straight SCAC men's tournament title for Texas Lutheran. The last two programs to win two straight championships went on to win a third (Centre College in 2009, 2010 and 2011 and Trinity University in 2012, 2013 and 2014).
- A top seed (either overall or divisional) has won the last nine SCAC Men's Basketball Tournaments. The tournament was seeded by division from 2008-2012.
- Colorado College ends its season with a 16-11 record.
UP NEXT
Texas Lutheran improves to 21-6 on the season and will find out its NCAA Tournament first-round matchup on Monday when the NCAA announces the 2016 national bracket.
Texas Lutheran improves to 21-6 on the season and will find out its NCAA Tournament first-round matchup on Monday when the NCAA announces the 2016 national bracket.
