MBB: USA South Conference

[scottiedoug]

So does this open the possibility that Covenant or even Huntingdon could join the USASouth?  In men's basketball there could be divisions if there were 12 teams so travel could be less burdensome...where would #12 come from?

[narch]

congrats to the capts. on an undefeated regular season and #1 seed in the conference tourney...it's amazing, but that might be the most quiet 21-4 season i've ever experienced as a usasac fan, especially when the 4 losses were all to legit teams...vwc and rmc are both top 25 teams and mwc and st mary's, md are no slouches

[D-BAT]

SU wins!!!!
72-68 over NCW

[narch]

mu finishes a 3 game sweep of ferrum on the season, winning 92-81 and get a trip to cnu as a reward - the monarchs have played the captains as close as anyone in the conference this season...could the third time be the charm for the green and gold?

au is currently leading gc 73-71 with 1:05 left...if they could hold on, that would mean the lower seed would win all three opening round games...

[D-BAT]

February 21, 2012

ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. – No. 7 Shenandoah University registered the biggest upset of the night with a 72-68 victory over second-seeded N.C. Wesleyan in the opening round of the USA South Conference men's basketball Tournament Tuesday night at Everett Gymnasium.

Shenandoah (5-21) snaps an eight-game losing streak with the victory over the Bishops (14-11).

The win is qualifies the Hornets for the tournament semi-finals for the 11th time in the 20 years that SU has been a member of the Dixie/USA South.

Shenandoah will face either No. 3 Greensboro or No. 6 Averett in the semis. If the game is at Greensboro, it will be a 7:30 start while the contest will start at 7 p.m. if it is played in Danville.

SU split with Averett during the regular season, with each winning on the other's home floor. GC swept the Hornets in 2011-12.

The Hornets, who had lost two games to N.C. Wesleyan this year when the Bishops made a pair of 20-point runs, traded the lead with NCWC 15 times and were tied on nine other occasions Tuesday night.

Shenandoah did not trail in the final three minutes, but the game was tied two more times before Avery Green gave SU the lead for good with his jumper at the 1:05 mark.

The Hornets then hit 5 of 6 from the line down the stretch, including 4 for 4 by Dominic Chappell, to ice the victory.

N.C. Wesleyan appeared to tie the game at 70-70 with 10 seconds remaining on Devin Nichols layup, but Nichols was called for a charge (his fifth foul) and the bucket was waved off.

Chappell then hit his final two free throws with seven seconds left to clinch the victory.

Green paced the victors with 20 points with George Williams adding 10 points off the bench.

Domarius Thomas had 19 for the Bishops.

Notes: Shenandoah outscored N.C. Wesleyan 28-18 in points off turnovers and 28-12 in bench points... This is the first time in three seasons that the Hornets have advanced to the semi-finals... SU is now 3-1 against NCWC in the USA South Tournament... The last time Shenandoah played in Rocky Mount as the No. 7 seed, in 1996, SU also registered an upset...

###

[Seatfiller]

SU wins!!!!
72-68 over NCW

Good win for SU I've seen some of their games and they are a team that plays hard so I'm not suprised, if they get some bigs next year they could do some damage in the ODAC

[Will2Win]

SU wins!!!!
72-68 over NCW

Good win for SU I've seen some of their games and they are a team that plays hard so I'm not suprised, if they get some bigs next year they could do some damage in the ODAC

Lol, Not soo fast...ODAC bball is head and shoulders above USAS bball...it will take them a few years to really be competitive. Once Pryor sees what they need to succeed there, he'll get the players to SU that fit his system...that's when they'll be dangerous...next year=a bit premature.

[D-BAT]

February 24, 2012

GREENSBORO, N.C. – No. 3 Greensboro College ended Shenandoah University's run in the 2012 USA South men's basketball Tournament, and in the league itself, with a 94-82 semi-final round victory Friday night.

Greensboro (18-9) will play at No. 1 Christopher Newport on Sunday for the right to represent the USA South in the NCAA Tournament.

Shenandoah ends its first season under coach Rob Pryor with a 5-22 record. Friday's appearance in the league semi-finals was the Hornets 11th and final one in 20 years of Dixie/USA South membership. SU leaves the league this summer to join the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.

The Pride, which led 40-30 at the break, pulled away in the second thanks to an absolutely sizzling 21 of 27 (77.8 percent) shooting in the second.

SU, which shot an even 50 percent (30 for 60) for the game, made 60 percent of his attempts in the second stanza but could not keep up with its hosts.

With the Hornets leading 27-25 after an Avery Green jumper at the 4:01 mark of the first, Greensboro seized control of the contest by ending the half on a 15-3 run.

Shenandoah's lone bucket in the final four minutes was a Ross Heyl 3-pointer 57 seconds before the buzzer.

GC began the second on another run, this one 15-5 over just 3:41, and effectively clinched the victory.

However, the Hornets refused to fold their tents refused to fold their tents and scored 18 of the final 27 points of the contest.

Green led SU with 17 points, Xavier Alston added 15, James Bowens 12 and Heyl 11.

Luqman Tijani had a game-high 22 for the victors.

Shenandoah will announce its 2012-13 schedule in late March.

###

[narch]

whoa...serious second half run by cnu knocked the monarchs out...first half appeared to be a pretty tight contest, with mu leading briefly and trailing by 5 at the half - the first 6 minutes of the second half was more of the same, but the monarchs stayed stuck on 47 for a LONG time...every time i glanced at livestats, i was tempted to hit refresh until i realized that the captains score was changing - looking back at the box score, mu went over 6 minutes w/o a point, and cnu stretched an 8 point lead to 25...ouch

it appears that the captains are peaking at the right time

[CNU85]

Narch,

CNU seems to be a second half team. They did it again tonight to win the conference. Down by 6 at the half. Then come out and they shoot 83% in the second half. Not a typo. 83%. It was fun to watch.

[narch]

Narch,

CNU seems to be a second half team. They did it again tonight to win the conference. Down by 6 at the half. Then come out and they shoot 83% in the second half. Not a typo. 83%. It was fun to watch.

clearly, cnu is changing the hoop at half-time, and enlarging the circle, since they shot 69% (82% from 3) in the second half vs. mu on friday - over 2 games, they shot .750 in the second half from the floor, including .785 from 3 - there is clearly something illegal about the rims...the ncaa should launch a full investigation

congrats to the capts on the conference championship - i hope they rep the usasac well

[CNU85]

Narch,

It is the special CNU blue Gatorade they drink at half-time. Bahahahaha. Thanks for the kind words. I'm hoping to see CNU this weekend. Was going to go up Friday but too much going on. So, going to watch game on iPad. A win, and my wife and I hit the road either around 730 Friday night or we will go up Saturday morning. Been meaning to ask you- I lose track of time- did you get Masters Degree yet?

[Reserved Seat]

What's Christopher Newport strength?
F&M plays a strong inside game with a pre-season All-American running the point.
On defense they play mostly man-to-man, leading the nation in defense at 55.4 points per game.  F&M ranks 10th in scoring margin.

[hasanova]

What's Chrispher Newport strength?
F&M plays a strong inside game with a pre-season All-American running the point.
On defense they play mostly man-to-man, leading the nation in defense at 55.4 points per game.  F&M ranks 10th in scoring margin.

One of their key strengths might be spelling Christopher, but in basketball, I guess an additional "TO" would be considered a weakness. 

[Reserved Seat]

hasanove,
Sorry for the misspelling, just had eye surgery and can't read the small type easily.
I'll have my wife check this one.