Centre Wins Third Straight SCAC Men's Basketball Championship

The Centre College Colonels survived a furious DePauw University second half comeback attempt and earned the school's third straight Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference championship with a 75-63 win over rival DePauw. Box Score

With the win, the Colonels (21-5, 13-3 SCAC) earn the SCAC's automatic bid to the 2011 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship.

Appearing in the SCAC championship game for a sixth-straight year, Centre won its fourth championship in that span thanks to a 23 point performance from junior forward Greg Ross. Ross, the tournament's MVP, broke the SCAC tournament scoring average by scoring 23.7 points per game. Sophomore guard Bryon Ellis joined Ross on the All-Tournament team.

Against DePauw, Ross scored 23 points on 7-for-13 shooting and added eight rebounds. Sophomore teammate Bryon was 3-of-3 from beyond the arc and finished the tournament shooting a remarkable 84.6 percent from 3-point range (11-of-13 total).

Centre jumped out a commanding 34-18 lead thanks in large part to outstanding shooting and superb defensive effort. The Colonels connected on 14-of-23 from the field (60.9 percent) and limited a DePauw offense to 6-of-24 from the floor (25 percent).

The second half was a different story as the Tigers (19-9, 12-4 SCAC) shot over 62 percent (18-of-29) and trimmed Centre's lead to three with seven minutes remaining in the game. DePauw couldn't quite comeback as Centre was too much down the stretch.

The Tigers were led by junior Sean Haseley's 20 points and 10 rebounds. Ryan Sever chipped in with 14 points on 6-of-12 shooting. Both Haseley and Sever were named to the All-Tournament team. Oglethorpe senior guard Joe Kennedy rounded out the All-Tournament team performers.

After the game SCAC Sports Information Director Jeff Debaldo caught up with both head coaches along with sophomore guard Bryon Ellis and junior forward Greg Ross of Centre.

To listen to DePauw head coach Bill Fenlon, click here.

To listen to sophomore guard Bryon Ellis of Centre, click here.

To listen to junior forward Greg Ross of Centre, click here.

To listen to Centre head coach Greg Mason, click here.

DePauw Men Advance to Third SCAC Championship Game

DePauw University avenged its regular season loss to Trinity University as the Indiana Tigers (19-8, 12-4 SCAC) advanced to their second consecutive SCAC championship with a 58-56 win over the Texas Tigers in the first semifinal of the 2011 SCAC Men's Basketball tournament.

DePauw jumped out to a 33-24 halftime lead thanks to 50 percent shooting in the first half. The Indiana Tigers shot 13-of-26 while holding Trinity to 37 percent shooting in the first half (10-of-27).

Trinity scored 36 of their 56 points from three starters as Ryan Beall paced the group with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Beall was 5-of-9 from the floor. Freshman Robert Kitzinger scored 12 points while senior forward Luke Caldarera scored 10 points and added five rebounds.

In the second half DePauw cooled off as Trinity limited the Indiana Tigers to 9-of-23 shooting (39.1 percent). Trinity shot better as they connected on 14-of-29 from the floor in the second stanza (48.3 percent). Trinity tied the game with less than 30 seconds remaining on the heels of 13 offensive rebounds during the game.

Trailing 58-56 with 30 seconds left in the game, Trinity had a chance to tie or win the game on their final possession. However, Trinity's Caldarera was not able to get the tying basket as time expired.

With the win DePauw advances to its third all-time appearance in the SCAC championship game and second straight trip. DePauw won the 2006 SCAC championship before falling to Centre in last year's final, 60-56. DePauw will play the winner of the Centre vs. Oglethorpe semifinal on Sunday, February 27 at 2:30 p.m. CT at Millsaps College.

After the game SCAC Sports Information Director Jeff DeBaldo caught up with both head coaches and DePauw senior Steve Lemasters.

To listen to Trinity head coach Pat Cunningham, click here.

To listen to senior Steve Lemasters of DePauw, click here.

To listen to DePauw head coach Bill Fenlon, click here.

DePauw Tips Austin College; Advances to Second Straight Semi-Final

DePauw University (18-8, 12-4 SCAC) overcame a four point halftime deficit and withstood an Austin College rally late in the second half and advanced to the SCAC semifinals with a 61-56 win Friday afternoon.

Trailing 59-56 with 6.2 seconds left in the game, Austin College had a chance to tie the game. The No. 3 West seed Kangaroos inbounded the ball from underneath its own hoop and had a potential 3-on-2 break away only to be fouled on the inbounds pass. Ransom Okpala missed the ensuing free throw and DePaw's Steve Lemasters grabbed the rebound and iced the game with a pair of free throws.

The Kangaroos (12-14, 7-9 SCAC) shot just under 43 percent in the first half in jumping out to a 30-26 lead. Austin College was led by Walter Phillips' 14 points on 4-for-9 shooting. Also scoring in double-figures for the Kangaroos was Scott Straley who chipped in with 10 points and five rebounds.

DePauw's Michael Wilkison scored a team-high 14 points while teammate Tommy Weakley added 11 points. Wilkison added five assits to go along with four rebounds. Senior Ryan Sever nearly tallied a double-double as he scored eight points and grabbed a team high 10 rebounds, including a crucial offensive rebound with under 10 seconds to play and his team clinging to a 58-56 lead.

DePauw advances to the SCAC semifinals on Saturday, February 26. The Tigers square off against No. 1 West seed Trinity, who beat Rhodes 62-42 earlier in the day. The Tigers will make its second straight appearance in the SCAC semifinals and the program's fifth semifinal appearance since 2003.

After the game SCAC Sports Information Director Jeff DeBaldo caught up with both head coaches along with senior forward Ryan Sever of DePauw.

To listen to Austin College head coach Rodney Wecker, click here.

To listen to senior Ryan Sever of DePauw, click here.

To listen to DePauw head coach Bill Fenlon, click here.

2010 - SCAC Basketball Media Days - DePauw

The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference office will conduct its first annual basketball "media days" event beginning Monday, November 15.

Day two features a sit down with both head coaches Kris Huffman and Bill Fenlon along with senior guard Lauren Goff and junior guard Sean Haseley of DePauw University.

Head Coach Kris Huffman returns for her 18th season at the helm of the DU Tigers coming off a 26-4 season which DePauw won its ninth SCAC Title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Huffman has guided DePauw to nine straight 20 plus win seasons and is just 20 wins shy of her 400th career win. Lauren Goff returns for her senior year as a threat from the outside connecting on 35% from long range as a junior averaging 6.5 points and 1.3 rebounds a game.

To listen to DePauw head coach Kris Huffman, click here.

To listen to senior guard Lauren Goff, click here.

On the men's side DePauw is coming off a 2009-10 season finishing 20-8 on the year 11-5 in conference play making a run to the SCAC title game before falling to eventual champion Centre. Fenlon notched his 400th career victory last season as a head coach and currently is the winningest active coach in the SCAC with 415 victories. Sean Haseley returns for his junior campaign after averaging 11.1 points and 3.5 rebounds per contest a season ago.

To listen to DePauw head coach Bill Fenlon, click here.

To listen to junior guard Sean Haseley, click here.

Second Straight; Centre knocks off DePauw 60-56 in SCAC Men's Title Game

The Centre College Colonels, the East's top seed, edged the second seeded DePauw University Tigers 60-56 to lay claim to the program's third Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference championship in the last four years.

The win earned Centre the SCAC's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament. Head coach Greg Mason and his Colonels earned the school's fourth consecutive NCAA bid and 13th overall. Centre improved to 18-8 whil DePauw dropped to 20-8 with the loss.

DePauw was not quite able to keep up the accurate shooting in the second half. The Tigers shot 26.7 percent (8-for-30) while Centre was able to shoot just over 46 percent to earn the win. The Colonels also used a strong performance from the post, as they held a 20-8 scoring advantage inside the paint. DePauw did hold a 13-0 margin in points off the bench.

All-Tournament team honros went to Centre's Mullaney (MVP), Noll, Alex Lloyd, DePauw's Willis and Trinity University's Luke Caldarera.

After the game SCAC Director of Communications caught up with both head coaches along with Centre teammates Jeff Mullaney, Alex Lloyd and Danny Noll.

To listen to DePauw head coach Bill Fenlon, click here.

To listen to Centre head coach Greg Mason, click here.

To listen to Centre sophomore guard Jeff Mullaney, click here.

To listen to Centre junior center Alex Lloyd, click here.

To listen to Centre senior forward Danny Noll, click here.

Stage Set; DePauw defeats Austin College 53-47 Advancing to face Centre in SCAC Title Game

DePauw University, the second seed from the East, used a 17 point effort from Drew Wills to defeat Austin College in the semifinals of the 2010 SCAC Tournament, 53-47.

The Tigers' win was the first win for a lower seeded team during the tournament. DePauw's Tony James was the only other Tiger to score in double-figures as he chipped in with 11 points and four assists.

The first half was marked by poor shooting as from both teams as DePauw shot 21.9 percent (7-for-32) and Austin College shot 26.9 percent (7-for-26). The Tigers held a 17-16 halftime lead. However, DePauw shot nearly 58 percent (11-for-19) while Austin College shot 11-for-29 (37.9 percent).

The Kangaroos were paced by senior guard, and 2009-10 SCAC Player of the Year, Kola Alade. Alade tallied a team-high 14 points on six-for-19 shooting to go along with six assists and two steals.

DePauw held a slight advantage on the glass, 39-32. With the win, the Tigers advance to their second SCAC championship game and look for the program's third league title since joining the SCAC in 1998-99. The Tigers improved to 20-7. Austin College dropped to 20-7, a school record season.

After the game SCAC Director of Communications Russell Kramer caught up with both head coaches and DePauw senior guard Tony James.

To listen to Austin College head coach Rodney Wecker, click here.

To listen to DePauw head coach Bill Fenlon, click here.

To listen to DePauw senior guard Tony James, click here.

DePauw sinks Pirates 67-60 to Advance to Men's Semifinals

In a rematch of last year's SCAC quarterfinal, the second seeded DePauw University Tigers survived a furious comeback attempt from the third seeded Southwestern University Pirates, and advanced to the 2010 SCAC semifnals with a 67-60 win Saturday night.

DePauw's Steve Lemasters was one of four Tigers who scored in double-figures. He led the team with 18. Tom Callen (13), David Gray (13) and Tomm Weakley (12) rounded out the quartet. Lemasters added six rebounds, one assist and shot 5-for-12 from beyond the arc.

The Tigers jumped out to a 45-26 halftime lead thanks in large part to outstanding shooting. DePauw shot a sizzling 57.7 percent (15-for-26) from the floor, including making 10-of-18 3-point attempts (55.6 percent). DePauw closed the half on a 24-6 run that seemed to put the game out of reach.

Southwestern, however, did not go quietly in the second half. After trailing 50-30, five minutes into the second half, the Pirates responded with a 17-4 run over seven minutes to cut DePauw's lead to 54-47. Southwestern got to within six points with just under two minutes left before the Tigers put the game away.

DePauw out-rebounded the Pirates a 36-24 count while also holding a decisive 18-4 edge in points off the bench. Southwestern was able to convert 19 Tigers turnovers into 19 points.

Southwestern was led by a trio of Pirates who scored in double-figures. Leading the group was senior guard Travis Barber. Barber poured in 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting and added two rebounds, two assists and two steals. Senior guard Anthony Cox posted a solid night with 14 points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists while junior forward Jonathan Brown chipped in with 14 points on 7-of-11 shooting (63.6 percent). He also added four rebounds, two steals and a block.

With the win, DePauw now faces #1W seeded Austin College in the semifinals Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. Central.

After the contest SCAC Director of Sports Information Jeff DeBaldo caught up with both head coaches along with DePauw junior Steve Lemasters.

To listen to Southwestern head coach Bill Raleigh, click here.

To listen to DePauw head coach Bill Fenlon, click here.

To listen to DePauw junior Steve Lemasters, click here.

SCAC Men's Basketball Podcast - Week Two

On this week's SCAC Men's Basketball Podcast we will take a look back at all of last weeks action including the opening weekend of SCAC play. Look ahead to the light schedule of games this week as students begin to tackle exams plus troll the polls looking inside the top 25 and finally bring you up to date with the latest conference standings.

The conference office also had a chance to catch up with DePauw head coach Bill Fenlon and Colorado College junior guard Nick Rose.

To listen to weeks SCAC Men's Basketball Podcast, click here.