MBB: Defensive Slugfests Dominate WAC Quarterfinals
Seattle U, CBU lock down a trip to the WAC semifinals
If you are a fan of a defensive-minded basketball game, you got what you wished for on Thursday night at Orleans Arena in the Western Athletic Conference quarterfinals.
In the first quarterfinal, for reference, Seattle U and Abilene Christian combined for 34 turnovers.
Along with those turnovers were the fouls. Five ACU players had two fouls before halftime, including big men Bradyn Hubbard and Leo Bettiol.
Seattle U star Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe picked up his fourth foul with nine minutes to play.
Fortunately for the Redhawks, Moncrieffe avoided that fifth foul until about 15 seconds left in the contest. And even the fifth foul was a bit questionable.
In the second quarterfinal, Tarleton State and California Baptist combined to shoot less than 40 percent from the field in the first half.
The Texans love to slug it out with opponents, and Thursday was no different.
Dantwan Grimes was playing with a toothache head coach Billy Gillispie said nobody else would have played through.
WAC Freshman of the Year Keitenn Bristow and Freddy Hicks made life difficult at times for CBU big man Kendal Coleman.
But, in a workman-like performance, Rick Croy got 12 rebounds out of Sam Silverstein, including eight offensive rebounds from the Harvard transfer.
Thursday night’s quarterfinal matchups were games of attrition. Who could handle the physicality? Who could play through the foul trouble?
Even more interesting is that the Seattle University starters all played 30-plus minutes. Paris Dawson and Kobe Williamson each played 35 minutes. And, despite foul trouble, Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe played 30 minutes.
The Tarleton State starters each played 34-plus minutes. Two players, Dantwan Grimes and Bubu Benjamin, played 40 minutes.
Outside of the physicality, the fouls, and the turnovers, Thursday night was entertaining basketball.
Players are making plays. Teams are throwing haymakers in an attempt to advance to Friday’s semifinals.
ACU and Seattle University are perfect examples of that.
“It was kind of the game we expected,” Seattle U head coach Chris Victor said. “Extremely physical, defensive battle.”
From Kobe Williamson quietly having 20 points to the Redhawks holding the combination of Leo Bettiol and Hunter Jack Madden to just three points combined, the haymakers took effect in the second half.
Brayden Maldonaldo hit a pair of 3-pointers, followed by Quion Williams and his driving layups to keep ACU in the ball game.
‘Paris (Dawson) and Brayden are two tough dudes,” Victor said. “The shots that Brayden hit were huge. I’m not surprised. The drives that Paris made, to make something out of nothing, was huge.”
Eventually, in a game that was pretty even all around, the difference was in that 3-point shooting.
ACU was just 1-18 from the perimeter, while Seattle U finished 3-13. The final score was 69-63. You can do the math.
The Redhawks advance to face Utah Valley in Friday’s semifinals.
CBU head coach Rick Croy had one of the best quotes of the night following the Lancers win over Tarleton State.
“I just told the guys in the locker room, ‘that’s March.’”
Croy continued.
“They (Tarleton State) threw such a great punch … they executed but our guys didn’t flinch.”
One of those guys that didn’t flinch was former Texan Adam Moussa.
With a minute to play, and the Lancers trailing by one, Moussa took a pass from Tylen Riley, pump faked, stepped to his left, and sank a 3-pointer, giving the Lancers the lead for good.
“I trusted him, and I know the team trusted him to hit that shot,” CBU guard Tylen Riley said. “He puts a lot of work in, so I know that shot was just bread and butter. I know it’s huge against his former team.”
With the 55-51 win, CBU advances to Friday’s semifinals to take on GCU.