LSC Basketball Tourney Matchups

Women first round Thur - 6th

NSU vs. Angelo State - NSU has 4 of their last 5, losing only to UCO. Angelo State has won 3 of 4, but that loss was a 12 pt loss to TAMK (7-20). ASU won the first game by 22 way back at the beginning of December, outscoring NSU 38-18 in the second half. That started a 10 game streak (and 14 of 15) for the Rambelles. The loss left NSU at 2-5, but they turned things around after that, winning 14 of 20 the rest of the way. The season is all but over for the loser of this game, as the teams are 8th and 9th in this weeks regional rankings, and nothing is guaranteed for the winner.

GAME RECAP - ASU held NSU to a season worst shooting performance of the season (33% from the field and 20% on 3 pointers) and topped the Riverhawks 53-46. The Rambelle's shot 51% and outrebounded NSU by a 35-21 margin. ASU's freshman Camille Perkins led all scorers with 15 pts, while Kim Hunter led NSU with 13 pts.

SEO vs WTAM - After a 6-1 start, SEO has struggled, winning only 9 of 20 the rest of the way. WTAM hasn't struggled at all. They opened the season 0-2, but since then have gone 23-2, including 17 of their last 18 and their last 7. Emily Brister has led WTAM in scoring 23 times (16 times in rebounds) this year. WTAM took a 66-48 win earlier this year, with Brister getting 21 pts and 10 rebounds, and Jessica Hocker scoring 18 for SEO. WTAM is top ranked in the region, so they need a win or two in the tourney to maintain that so they can host the regional tourney. SEO needs a minimum of two tourney wins, maybe 3 to make the regional tourney.

GAME RECAP - Emily Brister gets her sixth double-double this year (24 pts and 10 rebounds) to lead WTAM to a 72-65 win over SEO. The game was pretty even through 10 1/2 minutes, but WTAM outscored SEO 28-14 the rest of the first half. SEO was able to cut the lead to 8 with just under 15 minutes to play, but a 10-0 run by WT ended any hopes of an upset. Jessica Hocker led SEO with 19 pts, and Destiny Brown had 17 as well.

TAMC vs. ACU - TAMC comes into this game at 10th in the region, so they need a win today and probably need to win the semifinal matchup as well. They have been playing OK lately, but have struggled away from home, losing 4 of their last 6 road games. ACU on the other hand are hot, winning 9 of their last 10, with only a 2 pt loss at WTAM. They are not in the regional rankings, so it will probably take a finals appearance at a minimum for them to make the regional tourney. It took OT to settle things the first time these two teams met up, with TAMC winning 86-80, despite shooting 35% in the game (to 54% for ACU). Britney Jordan had 29 for TAMC, while ACU was led by Alex Guiton with 24 and Kristee Davidson with 22.

TAMC has cut into a 49-38 halftime deficit, but still trails 69-63 with 5:21 to go. Britney Jordan has 27 pts to lead the Lady Lions, while Audrey Maxwell leads ACU with 24 pts and also has 10 boards.
Under a minute to go, ACU's lead back up to 8, 79-71. Commerce got to within 2, but ACU has pulled away a bit.
Game over. ACU wins 88-82 and advances to the second round. Stars of the game were Alex Guiton (22 pts) and Audrey Maxwell for ACU (33 pts and 13 rebounds) and Britney Jordan for TAMC (38 pts and 12 assists).

Despite Commerce's radio announcer's optimism, TAMC's season is over. They held the #10 spot in the regional rankings coming into this week and it would be virtually impossible for them to move up into the top 8. #9 NSU and #8 ASU face off in the first round of the LSC tourney, so it would take a team in front of them losing, and free-falling for the Lions to pass them.

UCO vs Tarleton State - UCO has been streaky, with a current 5 game winning streak, after losing 3 of 4, and before that winning 8 in a row. Tarleton is not coming into the tourney strong, losing 4 of 5. The first matchup with these teams, resulted in a 62-57 UCO win. Lizzie Brenner led the way with 17 pts and 13 rebounds, and Tarleton was limited to just 28% shooting from the field. UCO is the third seed in the region, and are probably in no matter what. Tarleton needs to at least get to the final, and probably win the whole tourney to get in.

UCO leads at half, 38-35. Dingler with 11 pts, 6 boards and 3 assists to lead Tarleton. Pillow has 16 for UCO, Brenner has 9.
51-44 UCO with 14:25 to go. UCO shooting 54% to 38% for TSU, but TSU with a 7 rebound edge, including 13 on the offensive side.
Game now tied at 51 with 13:02 to go
46 seconds to go score tied at 68, UCO ball after the timeout.
Karlie Free hits a jumper from the elbow, UCO 70-68
TSU misses, UCO rebound, TSU fouls Karlie Free with 7 seconds. Hits the first...time out...UCO 71-68
Second FT is good, TSU misses basket...game over UCO wins 72-68

UCO scores the last 6 points of the game and Tarleton fails to win their first playoff game. Jamie Ansley leads the TexAnns with 18 pts and 9 rebounds, D'Anna Dingler chips in 14 pts and 9 rebounds, and JoAnne Jones has 14 pts and 8 boards. Lizzie Brenner leads UCO with 26 pts (17 in second half) and 14 rebounds, Cassidy Pillow has 16 pts (all in first half) and Karlie Free has 14, including the final four for UCO.

Men first round Wed - 5th
12:00 - ACU vs. SWO - ACU was reeling, losing 4 LSC South games in a row. They regained their balance, winning 4 of 6 in the second half of divisional play, with close losses to on the road at Tarleton and WTAM. SWO is 21-6, but 9 of their wins were either by 3 or less, or in OT. So either, they are clutch in close games, or fortunate to have won 21.

The teams played in Abilene on January 3. The Wildcats shot 18-22 (82%) from the field in the second half, inlcluding a perfect 7-7 on three-pointers, to beat the Bulldogs 87-66.

SWO radio webstream

GAME RECAP
ACU turned a 3-2 deficit into an 18-3 lead five minutes into the game, and kept SWO at arm's length for most of the game. SWO never gave up and turned a 72-57 point deficit with 8 1/2 minutes to go into a 88-88 tie at the end of regulation. They were still tied at the end of the first OT, 94 all, but ACU pulled away in the second OT to win 108-98. The Bulldogs had 5 players foul out (Perry, Guy, Hale, Lawal, and Frosch) and ran out of gas in the second OT. ACU was lead by Dejan Sancanski and Corwin Ragland each with 24 pts and Brandon Callahan and Cameron Holson, each with 17. SWO's Nate Perry scored 25 pts and had 8 rebounds, Kendall Smith had 21 points (all 3 pointers) and Clarke Hale with 20. ACU had a 46-29 edge on the boards.

SWO's chances to make the NCAA regional tournament now in jeopardy, even at 21-7. They do have an outside chance, but are definitely a bubble team.

2:30 - WTAM vs. TAMC - WTAM comes into the tournament as the hottest team in the LSC, winning 8 in a row and 13 of their last 14, with the lone loss an OT defeat at Tarleton. TAMC will leave you scratching your head at times -how do they beat Tarleton by 20, but lose to Cameron at home in the season finale?

In their first meeting, WTAM limited the Lions to 30% shooting in the second half en route to a 72-65 win in Canyon. Scooby Johnson scored 17 and pulled down 10 rebounds in 28 minutes before fouling out. Robert Lee was held to just 10 points, but Tyler Cooper picked up the slack knocking down 19, and grabbing 11 boards.

WTAM radio webstream
TAMC radio webstream

9:34 to go in first half, WTAM up 21-11. TAMC only shooting 29%, while WTAM is hitting 56%. Scooby Johnson has 5 pts and 3 rebounds for the Lions, while the Buffs are led by Robert Lee with 6 pts and 3 rebounds.
At halftime the score is in favor of WTAM 36-34. They led 34-19 with 3:44 to go, but the Lions outscored the Buffs15-2 the rest of the way. WTAM is led by Robert Lee with 12 pts, four others have 5 pts each. Kevin Widemond leads TAMC with 11 pts, and Scooby Johnson has 8.
With 11:46 to go, TAMC up 48-43, Scooby now with 14. TAMC on a 23-7 run over the last 10 1/2 minutes.
Robert Lee picks up his fourth foul with 5:53 to go and TAMC up 57-54. Scooby is out right now with an ankle problem.
This game is going down to the wire.... Scooby grabs an offensive rebound and gets the put back....Lee misses a three pointer and Scooby with the defensive board....timeout with 1:10 to go TAMC up 65-61.....
Lee fouls out on the inbounds....he leaves with 24 pts and 5 rebounds
With 20 seconds to go, TAMC is up 67-63....
Cooper misses 3 pointer....TAMC rebound.....layup.....Commerce wins 69-63

GAME RECAP

The Lions turned a 34-19 deficit with 3:44 to go in the first half into a 69-63 upset win over the LSC South top seeded West Texas A&M Buffaloes. Scooby Johnson led TAMC with 19 pts and 8 rebounds and hit 3-5 three pointers. Kevin Widemond had 17 pts, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. For WTAM, Robert Lee led the way with 24 pts, but fouled out with a little over a minute to go and WT down by 4.

West Texas A&M is still a solid pick for the NCAA South Central Regional tournament, but likely will have lost the opportunity to host.

6:00 - TSU vs. NSU - The Texans were cruising, going through the first half of LSC South divisional play unblemished, and on a 14 game winning streak. The second half was a bit rougher, with TSU losing 3 of 6, including the season finale to Angelo State 58-76. NSU is on a hot streak, winning 6 of their last 7 LSC North games, including wins over Central Oklahoma and TAMC, and only a 4 point loss on the road at SWO.

The teams' first contest went to Tarleton 65-58, as the Texans had 4 players in double figures, with Eric Williams getting a double-double (11 points, 11 rebounds). Aaron Arango led NSU with 15 points.
TSU radio webstream
NSU radio webstream

GAME RECAP

Mike Daniels made two FTs with 3 seconds to play, lifting Tarleton to a 65-64 win over NSU. Sadly for NSU, he was fouled some 35 ft away from the basket. Terrence Gamble led Tarleton with 22 pts, Eric Williams had 16 and Avery Patterson chipped in with 15. For NSU it was Aaron Arango with 16, Mike Bontrager with 15, and Steve Neal with 14.

8:30 - ASU vs. UCO - much like Abilene, ASU was struggling in LSC divisional play sitting at 3-6 and in a must win situation at TAMK in the second to last game of the season. Not only did they win in Kingsville, but returned home and beat TSU by 18 in a game they did not have to win.

The Bronchos dealt the Rams their first loss of the season in a 78-69 game played in San Angelo. With the score tied at 60, UCO outscored ASU 18-9 over the last 6 1/2 minutes. Sam Belt led UCO with 20 pts and 8 boards, and Eric Cazenave had 18 and 7. Marcus Hubbard had 16 pts for ASU, and Denell Stephens had 14.
ASU radio webstream

GAME RECAP

In a relative blowout, UCO tops Angelo State 85-75 in the final game of the first round. Sam Belt led the Bronchos with 33 pts, and Eric Cazenave had 19. Maso Hamilton led ASU with a career high 23. Marcus Hubbard was held to only 11 pts and 1 rebound. Free throws were the difference as UCO hit 27-35, and ASU only 17-24.

LSC Website - for live stats, and webcasts. Webcasts are $5.50 per game, $21.99 for all 7 men's or women's games, or $36.99 for all 14 games.

Troy Shockley of the Abilene Reporter News will be at the tournament and be blogging the action at Reporter News Blog.

Other Newspaper articles

NEW 3/6 Abilene Reporter News

NEW 3/6 Amarillo Globe News

NEW 3/6 San Angelo Standard Times

Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise

Abilene Reporter News (Troy Shockley)
Abilene Reporter News - Men's tournament outlook
Abilene Reporter News - Women's tournament outlook
Amarillo Globe News (Lance Lahnert)
San Angelo Standard Times (Nathan Wright)
Tulsa World