| Jim Stocki and the Pioneers
are headed to the WIAC finals. UW-Platteville athletics file photo |
Thursday night brought the first major upsets of Division III's conference playoffs as the top seeds in the men's OAC and WIAC lost.
- Thursday's men's scores
- More men's game stories
- Thursday women's scores
- More women's game stories
- Latest NCAA regional rankings
UW-Platteville knocked off No. 10 UW-Stevens Point 60-56 in the WIAC semifinals. Chas Cross hit a three-pointer early in the second half to put the Pioneers in front 33-32. UW-Platteville never lost that small lead, though the Pointers had several chances to tie or take the lead back.
The fifth seeded Pioneers will try to win a third playoff game on the road when they travel to No. 9 UW-Whitewater on Saturday. The Warhawks opened their semifinal against UW-Stout with a 10-0 run and went on to win 63-59.
The day had a promising start for Capital, which was the top-seed in the OAC tournament. The Crusaders took home conference player of the year (Spencer Niekamp) and coach of the year (Damon Goodwin) honors. But Mount Union (13-14) spoiled the celebration with a 63-59 upset victory in Columbus. Niekamp had 21 points for the Crusaders who shot 33 percent from the field (17-for-51).
|
Pool C Party: Top seeds eliminated Capital: 19-6, 19-4 in region; 5th in
the UW-Stevens Point: 21-5, 21-4 in
region; Westfield
State: 21-5, 19-5 in region; |
In the other OAC semifinal Marietta outlasted Wilmington 111-106 in a triple-overtime thriller. The Quakers were on the verge of advancing three different times, but the Pioneers would not be denied. Wilmington led 75-74 but was called for a foul with no time remaining. Marietta's Garrett Stephenson hit the first shot to tie the game, but missed the second. In the first overtime, Jacob Owens hit a three pointer for Marietta with four seconds left to tie the game again. JJ Martin did the same for the Pioneers with one second left in the second overtime. Box score
Farmingdale State stifled SUNY-Old Westbury in the first half and then held off the Panthers 81-69 in the Skyline semifinals. Rams' All-American AJ Matthews posted a monster night with 30 points, 25 rebounds and four blocks.
The MASCAC will send someone other than Salem State or Bridgewater State to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1994. Massachusetts College defeated Salem State 77-59 and will meet Fitchburg State in the finals. The Falcons ousted top-seed Westfield State 68-61. Massachusetts College last made the NCAA tournament in 1990 and Fitchburg State never has.
Calvin and Hope will meet once again in the MIAA tournament final. No. 15 Calvin cruised past Adrian 71-44 while Hope took care of Trine 76-63. Hope and Calvin have played each other for the MIAA's automatic bid seven of the last eight years with the Flying Dutch winning five of those games.
Wesley defeated Salisbury 73-66 in the CAC semifinals and set a new program record for victories in a season in the process. Paul Reynolds had 28 points for the Wolverines. They will meet No. 14 St. Mary's (Md.) which topped Mary Washington 89-81.