Blue Knights win at the National Tournament
Blue Knights win at the National Tournament
For immediate release:
Thursday, March 22, 2018
Danville, IL – Game 13 of the 2018 NJCAA Division II Men's Basketball National Tournament was an elimination game featuring No. 4 seed Louisburg and No. 12 seed Dakota County. A competitive first half between the two teams consisted of seven lead changes. Dakota County jumped out to an early 10-1 lead as Louisburg didn't make a field goal for the first two and a half minutes of the game. The Hurricanes settled in and by the 13:45 mark, took their first lead of the game 15-14. They extended their lead to five after completing an 8-0 run. Headed by Harlyn Owens, who finished with 18 points in the half, regained the lead after the teams traded three pointers mid-way through the half. The Blue Knights led 30-28 with 6:52 to go.
Mikeal Watkins hit two threes in the last three minutes of the half for Louisburg which would change hands
HALFTIME SCORE:
Dakota County – 39
Louisburg - 40
1st HALF LEADERS:
Dakota County:
#2 Harlyn Owens, 6'3, Fr. – 18pts, 7-11 FG
#21 Damario Armstrong, 6', So. – 8pts, 3-7 FG
#3 Cole Murray, 6'8, So. – 4pts, 7rebs
Louisburg:
#1 Mikeil Watkins, 6', So. – 10pts, 2asts
#2 Jordan Oakley, 6'5, So. – 8pts, 9rebs
#3 Marquise Riley, 6'2, Fr. – 7pts, 3rebs
The game got chippy in the early going of the second half, as two players picked up technical fouls in the first three minutes. Dakota County, who trailed at the end of the first half by one, established a seven point lead after the first four minutes, 53-46, after Dontae Jones drained a three and then dunked in the open court after a steal. The Hurricanes would come back and tie the game at 56 after a three-pointer from Lewis Freeman. But unlike the first half, there would be no more lead changes the rest of the game. Dakota County used the free throw line to keep the game at a distance against the foul happy Hurricanes. The Blue Knights went to the free throw line 10 times in the final 10 minutes of the game. Louisburg was able to reel off six straight points to make the game 92-90 with 1:10 to go. But in their final possessions, the Hurricanes turned the ball over twice, which allowed Dakota County to make three of their final four free throws to ice the game. Louisburg's final three-point attempt was blocked an Dakota County ran out the clock to a 95-90 victory. It was the first win for the Blue Knights at the National Tournament in school history. Dakota County Technical College will advance to play Grand Rapids Community College on Friday at 9:00am. Louisburg College is eliminated from the 2018 NJCAA Division II Men's Basketball National Tournament.
FINAL SCORE:
Dakota County – 95
Louisburg - 90
TEAM LEADERS:
Dakota County:
#2 Harlyn Owens, 6'3, Fr. – 32pts, 4rebs, 12-22 FG, 4-7 3PT
#21 Damario Armstrong, 6', So. – 19pts, 7-17 FG, 4-11 3PT
#3 Cole Murray, 6'8, So. – 6pts, 12rebs
#11 Dontae Jones, 6'3, So. – 13pts, 3rebs
#25 Martez Rodgers, 6', So. – 8pts, 4rebs, 6asts, 8-10 FT
Louisburg:
#1 Mikeil Watkins, 6', So. – 16pts, 4rebs, 7asts, 8-11 FT
#2 Jordan Oakley, 6'5, So. – 16pts, 14rebs, 3blks
#4 Ja'Darien Wade, 6'3, So. – 12pts, 8rebs, 4asts, 5-9 FG
#15 Lewis Freeman, 6'5, So. – 11pts, 3-4 3PT
#3 Marquise Riley, 6'2, Fr. – 7pts, 7rebs