MBB: Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference

[Greek Tragedy]

I'm back from the Rex after an entertaining and contraversial game pitting #6 seed Lakeland and #3 seed Wisconsin Lutheran. as Lakeland pulls out a 99-94 overtime thriller.

The visitors came out on fire and took the lead from the get-go with Kris Saiberlich going off for 18 in the first half, all from long distance.  Grube was also a factor, going 3 for 4 from outside the arc to finish with 12 at the break.  It was balanced scoring for WLC, but they trailed by 12 at half time. 

WLC chipped away for first 10 minutes or so and finally took the lead around the halfway mark of the 2nd half.  The Warriors held the lead for most of the 2nd 10 minutes, but Lakeland pulled even near the end of regulation.  With the score tied at 77 with about a minute to go, WLC ran the shot clock down and got off a shot with about 40 seconds to go.  They got the offensive rebound and threw it back out on top.  Instead of running the clock down to basically get the last shot, a WLC player decided to launch a 3 with 30+ left on the game clock.  Uh?  What are you doing?

Lakeland doesn't call a time out and runs the ball down the floor.  A few missed shots and a scramble underneath follows.  Lakeland comes out with the ball...now here is where things get interesting...

Right after Lakeland gets the rebound, you hear the whistle blow, a split second later you hear the horn blow.  No one knows what's going on until the referee points to the Lakeland bench and signals a timeout.  The ref hesitates and then waves off the timeout!  The crew gets together for a little huddle and then they decide the timeout wasn't called in time.  Wow.  The whistle clearly blew before the horn went off. 

So, overtime it is.  The teams trade baskets and then Lakeland takes over, or do they?  With less than a minute to go, after two Lakeland free throws, the visitors are up by 9.  WLC comes down and nails a 3.  After a time out, Lakeland coughs the ball up and another 3 is hit...3 point game just like that.  Aaron Regal hits 9 of 10 free throws in the last minute to ice the game.


ONE LAST THING THAT IS IMPORTANT:  HATS OFF TO THE LAKELAND COLLEGE BASEBALL TEAM THAT CAME DOWN TO NOT ONLY SUPPORT, BUT CHEER ON THE BASKETBALL TEAM.  THEY REALLY PUT IN A GREAT EFFORT AND MADE THE ATMOSPHERE ELECTRIC (ALONG WITH THE 6TH MAN). 

You don't see that too often.  Very nice!  Kudos to you guys.

[libero]

Edgewood College having a full blown meltdown against Marian in the last five minutes of the game.

EC was down by nine when Averkamp got a blocked shot.  He either taunted or inappropriately celebrated (radio broadcaster not quite sure) and got T'd up. DeMarco said something in reaction and got T'd as well.  As Marian was shooting FT's Coach Adrian got a T.  Then Averkamp got a second T from the bench and was tossed.  Marian hits 7 of 8 free throws and the game is over.

Sad way for a great career by Averkamp to end.

He pulled a "zidane". Only it wasn't a World Cup final.

[WLCALUM83]

Ba dumm bumm.

[WLCALUM83]

MSOE vs. Aurora:  Can't see the Spartans losing twice at home to MSOE, though it'll be another close battle.

Lakeland vs. Marian:  Going with Marian at home.

[Pat Coleman]

MSOE vs. Aurora live tonight on D3hoopsNet.
http://www.d3hoops.com/audio/

[Greek Tragedy]

Lakeland pulls another upset on the road and tops Marian in OT!!!! 

Aurora has no problem with MSOE in the other semi.

Lakeland at Aurora for all the marbles.

[WLCALUM83]

Who should get the NAthCon player of the year award?

[WLCALUM83]

Who should win NAthCon Men's Coach of the Year award?

[keith45]

How is Lancaster not up there for Coach of the year?

[fishguy]

Lakeland 82, Aurora 77, OT

Lakeland is 17-11 - with three road upsets this week do they have any prayer of getting in? Is Aurora in at 22-6?

[Gregory Sager]

Lakeland 82, Aurora 77, OT

Lakeland is 17-11 - with three road upsets this week do they have any prayer of getting in? Is Aurora in at 22-6?

Remember, overall records are irrelevant -- only regional records matter. Aurora (20-6) is a shoo-in for a tourney berth, given the weak Pool B field. The chances for Lakeland (16-10) -- the loss to TIU and the win over Northland Baptist Bible don't count in the eyes of the selection committee -- are more problematic.

Go to the "Bumblin' B's" room in the Multi-Region Topics section of Posting Up. That's where the experts will be figuring out all of the Pool B possibilities over the next 36 hours.

[Greek Tragedy]

What an amazing feat by the Muskies in the last week.  THREE overtime games on the road.  For some strange reason I thought that game was tomorrow and was actually planning on going to it.  Great job by Lakeland.  I don't think they'll get a Pool B or Pool C bid, but congrats on adding to the trophy case.

[WLCALUM83]

I'll add my congrats to Lakeland as well:

Question:  What did the Muskie OT tournament run and the Energizer battery have in common?

Answer:  They both kept going. . . and going. . . and going.

[WLCALUM83]

Went mainly by comparing Media Day pre-season projections to where the teams actually finished in regular season standings-Aurora was picked to finish 1st and did--

Did the Spartans have several players injured that I didn't know about?

[Greek Tragedy]

3 votes for Brumett?  Seriously, Lakeland finished 6th in the NathCon and they had, what, 4 senior starters?