A big day in D3 Hoops for a small school in the back woods of West Virginia. Bethany College a school known more for it's academics, rather than it's athletics, flexed its muscles last night at Hummel Field House. The Men's Basketball team did what they have done all season long, Win. Last night was the biggest game for the Bison as they played in the PAC Championship game, and Bethany College hosted this event being the #1 seed in the PAC, and #25 in the Nation this season.
The Bison were taking on Thomas More and were looking to repeat as Champions. They did just that in a hard fought victory last night, Feb. 25 2012. The Bison were lead by junior Reece Mabery who scored 16 points and sophmore Leslie Addy who had 15 points in last night game. This was a hard fought victory for the Bison as Thomas More wouldn't go away without a fight.
The first half was highlighted by a stifling Bison defense, which limited Thomas More to just 19 percent shooting (5-26). The Saints’ Phil Feinberg hit a lay-up with 10:22 left in the half and it would be the final field goal of the opening stanza for the visitors. Leading 17-15 with 5:22 to go in the period, Bethany rolled off a 13-2 surge to build a 30-17 lead going into halftime. Addy, who buried a three for the final points before the break, dropped in 10 before halftime. In addition to holding TMC to just 17 points, the Green and White converted eight turnovers into 11 points on their end.
The opening points of the second half was a lay-up by Thomas More’s Colt Stafford, but another trey by Addy highlighted a 9-0 run that took Bethany’s lead to 39-19 with 16:32 to play. Just when it looked like BC was in position to put the game away, the Saints heated up from the outside and Bethany went cold. Three-pointers by Todd Krohman and Daniel Whelan helped the Saints chip into the deficit, but when Bison junior James Barton (Bethel Park, Pa.) hit a lay-up with 10:09 to go, it was still a 45-31 BC lead. However, that proved to be the final field goal of the contest for Bethany, who would have to win it with defense and free throw shooting. Thomas More climbed back into the game with a 14-3 run to chop the Bison lead to 48-45 with 5:19 to play. A couple missed free throws helped keep the Saints in it and when Ryan Hamm cashed in a three-pointer with 38 seconds left, BC held the slimmest of leads at 52-51.Bethany would finally secure the victory and their sixth PAC Tournament championship in 11 years by hitting clutch foul shots. Addy stepped up first by swishing a pair with 37 seconds left. Mabery then made a steal on the other end, one of his five thefts on the night, and was fouled. He buried both of those attempts and two more with five seconds to play following a TMC bucket to provide the winning margin. Once the final buzzer sounded, the raucous student section stormed the court to join the celebration with the record-setting Bison.
The difference makers were: Addy stepped up by setting a new career-high with 15 points, while Barton rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10. Senior British Alexander recorded nine points and seven boards before fouling out and junior Nick Wilcox scored eight points and matched his career-high with 13 rebounds.
With the win, the Bison repeat as PAC champions and win their 14th conference crown, the most in PAC history. Now with a 25-3 overall, BC has broken the single-season school record for victories previously set in 2004-05. Thomas More finishes the season with a 20-8 record. The victory and conference title also gives Bethany the PAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. It will be the program’s eighth overall trip to the Big Dance and second in a row after last year’s loss in the opening round to Manchester. The NCAA Tournament pairings and locations will be announced Monday at noon.
I will be informing you with whatever happens with the Bison and their run for now a NCAA title. I will also be updating you via Twitter (@michaelbonaven3). So if it's College Hoops you want, then be sure to check back in for updates as they happen.
Until next time reader,
You keep doing what you do, and I'll keep you up to date with everything sports
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