We're down to three undefeated teams in the nation after sim-controlled Thomas lost on the road last night.
Last Night
#23 Ozarks 58 #20 Southwestern 66
This was a very evenly matched game with the only major difference in stats was the 2-1 margin in free throw attempts that Southwestern held. Considering Ozarks only missed one of their sixteen free throws, getting more opportunities would've made a world of difference. As it was, the Pirates of Southwestern were able to hold on to the lead throughout the second half and finished off a satisfying 8 point win. Arrrrggghhh. With the win, Southwestern and hoopcoach stay just one game in the loss column off the division lead and continue their slow climb up the rankings. Ozarks and spike on the other hand slide a few spots down the rankings.
Also considered: #4 Trinity handled Louisiana 65-52, #12 Emory breathed a sigh of relief when a last second 3ptr missed and they beat Centre 52-49, #14 Rivier got past W. New England 81-71, and Suffolk edged S. Vermont 59-45.
Sim blowout watch: Swarthmore covered the huge spread at home by losing to #3 Ursinus 49-80 and Wisconsin Whitewater did the same at #16 Wisconsin Oshkosh 49-79.
ITaLRbHAGotN: It was a thriller in the SUNY last night as US Coast Guard looked set to "coast" to an easy victory when they led at the break by 13 points. However, SUNY Cortland kept chipping away and finally tied the game at 86 with just under three minutes to go. The two teams traded baskets and then traded misses in the last forty seconds so we went to overtime tied at 93. Seems like Cortland ran out of gas in the extra session as they couldn't keep up the frantic scoring pace and the Coast Guard Bears escaped with a 110-100 upset win. Wait, Bears? Your school is full of cadets for the Coast Guard and you're the Bears? I know polar bears are great swimmers, but couldn't you pick something a little more keeping with the theme of the school? Weird. Anyway, the Red Dragons of Cortland are now tied with Brockport atop the division, and those two teams meet in the last game of the season. Red Dragons, now there's a cool mascot.
GotN
#1 Hardin-Simmons (21-1)(sublightd) at Austin (17-6)(ricosuave21)
I've been wanting to feature on of our two top ranked teams and H-S is first up as they look to continue their undefeated roll through the American Southwest conference. They got past Austin at home in the first game a few days ago and now go on the road to try for the season sweep. Austin looks to be in good position for the post-season but the upset here would give them a nice boost in seeding. Regardless of what happens on the court, I'm already declaring Austin the winner of mascot battle since the Austin Kangaroos is way more awesome than the Hardin-Simmons Cowboys. Kangaroos! In Texas! Love it.
Also considered: #4 Trinity at #19 Rhodes, #2 Piedmont at Palm Beach Atlantic, S. Vermont at #8 Johnson and Wales, and Millsaps at #12 Emory
Sim blowout watch: Two spreads are in the 70's: Sul Ross State is getting 75 points hosting #6 Texas Lutheran and Rutgers Camden is getting 72 points at #13 Ramapo.
ITaLRbHAGotN
Grove City (10-13)(Sim AI) at Wooster (15-7)(pseudochamp)
Ok, so this one didn't take too much research but I've been looking forward to this one for a while. The Fighting Scots of Wooster fell in a heartbreaker in OT earlier in the season at the Grove and it started a downward spiral of despair and self-loathing. Now Wooster seems to have righted the ship and a win here would certainly be a sweet dose of revenge. I'd rather not think about what a loss would mean, how's that for pressure?