#18 Bobcats Earn Trip to Regional Championship
For the first time ever in program history, the #2 seeded Bryant & Stratton College men's basketball team has advanced to the NJCAA Region IV championship game after defeating the #3 seeded Waubonsee Community College Chiefs 80-73 on Sunday evening...
WAUWATOSA, WI (March 4, 2019) - For the first time ever in program history, the #2 seeded Bryant & Stratton College men's basketball team has advanced to the NJCAA Region IV championship game after defeating the #3 seeded Waubonsee Community College Chiefs 80-73 on Sunday evening.
The win improved the Bobcats to 25-7 and marks as their twelfth consecutive victory.
The Bobcats last loss came back in the middle of January and have won every game since then including seven region wins.
Dropping one point shy of his career-high, Bobcats guard Justin Brookens put in 35 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals. Brookens shot 12-21 from the field including 5-11 from beyond the arc.
Freshman guard Manny Jingco added 12 points, five rebounds and three assists followed by freshman forward Jose Sosa with 10 points, five rebounds and three assists.
Leading 9-7 with just over 13 minutes left in the first half, Brookens took the ball coast-to-coast scoring his first basket of the game extending the Bobcats lead to 11-7.
With just over two minutes remaining before the break, Brookens caught fire drilling a shot from downtown extending the Bobcats lead to 33-26.
At the break, Bryant & Stratton led Waubonsee 37-31.
To start the second half, the Bobcats came out of the gates quickly after a reverse layup from Jingco stretching the lead to 39-31.
At the midway point of the second half, the Bobcats remained ahead 57-50 with the Chiefs right on their tails.
With five minutes left in the contest, the Chiefs cut the deficit down to just four points (64-60) but it was Brookens coming to the rescue again knocking down a 23 footer off of the dribble to give Bryant & Stratton a seven point edge (67-60).
Maintaining their lead, the Bobcats found themselves ahead 73-69 with just over a minute remaining.
With the clock against them, the Chiefs were forced to foul sending Brookens to line where he knocked down two-of-two giving the Bobcats a six point advantage.
Leading 79-73 with 13 seconds remaining, the Bobcats had sealed the deal and celebrated as a they were on their way to the Region IV championship game.
Bryant & Stratton 50.9% from the field and 45.8% from distance.
UP NEXT:
Bryant & Stratton will take on the #1 seeded Morton College Panthers next Saturday at the Waubonsee Community College for the Region IV title.
Tip-off will take place at 7:30pm.
The Bobcats suffered a 73-68 loss to the Panthers back in late December but will look for revenge this time around.