2008 Woodie Awards
A sprint at the finish line gives Men's Basketball a playoff berth
Victoria Davis
Issue date: 2/22/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
Men's Basketball has certainly seen its share of ups and downs this year. Fortunately, they ended their season on a high note.
On Thurs., Feb. 15 Men's Basketball honored their seven seniors in their final home game as Mules. But with emotions high, they all still realized the implications of the game. They needed a win if they were going to stay in the running for the fifth and final playoff spot in the Centennial Conference. Their home finale would be against the Dickinson Red Devils (7-16, 5-12), and the Mules came out knowing what had to be done.
The Mules were able to fend off a Red Devil offensive explosion in the second half as Dickinson shot an overwhelming 76.2 percent. With just 10.4 seconds left in the game, senior Jimmie Riggins hit a three-point shot to knot it up. Dickinson was given a terrifyingly long ten seconds for a chance to hit a winning shot. However, they were unable to even set up a solid play, and ended regulation with a near half-court heave. Overtime loomed yet again for the Mules.
The Mules have seen their fair share of overtime this year, and have been fairly successful. But this game was more pressure-packed than any they had seen so far, and they handled it beautifully. They made all eight of their overtime shots to win the game 91-84. Senior Tom Scott contributed 29 points in the Mules' victory, with sophomore Mike Bernardini close behind with a career high 28 points. Bernardini also went five for seven from the three-point line. Riggins recorded a double-double with twelve points and ten rebounds.
Two days later on Sat., Feb. 17, the team took on Ursinus for their final game of the regular season. The Mules (10-14, 9-9) were up by nine, 41-32, at the end of the first half, and they led by as many as 14 points in the second half, but the Bears would not give up. They clawed their way back into the competition, and the Mules suddenly found their lead had dwindled to only two points with 25 seconds left in regulation.
Would this be yet another overtime thriller? No, the Mules kept their cool and the lead as the Bears were forced to foul, and the Mules knocked down all six of their free throws in the final seconds.
The 76-68 win over Ursinus was Muhlenberg's fifth straight win, and together with a McDaniel loss it placed Muhlenberg securely and finally alone in the fifth slot for the Centennial Conference Playoffs. Scott came up huge again, scoring 25 points, grabbing seven rebounds and making three steals. Senior Chris Huber, who was recently named to the Lehigh Valley Small College Basketball Team of the Year along with fellow senior on the women's team Meghan Courtney, added 13 points of his own.
Muhlenberg's first playoff game will be held at Gettysburg on Wed., Feb. 21. The winner of that game will then continue on to face a tough Johns Hopkins team on Sat., Feb. 24.
On Thurs., Feb. 15 Men's Basketball honored their seven seniors in their final home game as Mules. But with emotions high, they all still realized the implications of the game. They needed a win if they were going to stay in the running for the fifth and final playoff spot in the Centennial Conference. Their home finale would be against the Dickinson Red Devils (7-16, 5-12), and the Mules came out knowing what had to be done.
The Mules were able to fend off a Red Devil offensive explosion in the second half as Dickinson shot an overwhelming 76.2 percent. With just 10.4 seconds left in the game, senior Jimmie Riggins hit a three-point shot to knot it up. Dickinson was given a terrifyingly long ten seconds for a chance to hit a winning shot. However, they were unable to even set up a solid play, and ended regulation with a near half-court heave. Overtime loomed yet again for the Mules.
The Mules have seen their fair share of overtime this year, and have been fairly successful. But this game was more pressure-packed than any they had seen so far, and they handled it beautifully. They made all eight of their overtime shots to win the game 91-84. Senior Tom Scott contributed 29 points in the Mules' victory, with sophomore Mike Bernardini close behind with a career high 28 points. Bernardini also went five for seven from the three-point line. Riggins recorded a double-double with twelve points and ten rebounds.
Two days later on Sat., Feb. 17, the team took on Ursinus for their final game of the regular season. The Mules (10-14, 9-9) were up by nine, 41-32, at the end of the first half, and they led by as many as 14 points in the second half, but the Bears would not give up. They clawed their way back into the competition, and the Mules suddenly found their lead had dwindled to only two points with 25 seconds left in regulation.
Would this be yet another overtime thriller? No, the Mules kept their cool and the lead as the Bears were forced to foul, and the Mules knocked down all six of their free throws in the final seconds.
The 76-68 win over Ursinus was Muhlenberg's fifth straight win, and together with a McDaniel loss it placed Muhlenberg securely and finally alone in the fifth slot for the Centennial Conference Playoffs. Scott came up huge again, scoring 25 points, grabbing seven rebounds and making three steals. Senior Chris Huber, who was recently named to the Lehigh Valley Small College Basketball Team of the Year along with fellow senior on the women's team Meghan Courtney, added 13 points of his own.
Muhlenberg's first playoff game will be held at Gettysburg on Wed., Feb. 21. The winner of that game will then continue on to face a tough Johns Hopkins team on Sat., Feb. 24.