Judson News
Wed, Feb 20, 2008 - [Men's Basketball]
Judson 78, Trinity Christian 69 - Box
Palos Heights, Ill. – History was made for Judson University (17-8/10-2) with a 78-69 win over Trinity Christian University (17-11/8-3) as the Eagles bring home their first-ever CCAC Championship. The championship is the first in 18 years as JU won the NIIC in 1990.
“This was a great win for Judson and the men’s program. This team has been working hard all season for this and I am glad to see these seniors achieve a goal that they set at the beginning of the season,” says head coach Jim Cook. “I am proud of these seniors and what they have accomplished.”
The whole team earned the win and the championship with five players in double figures evenly spread across the board. Dewayne Robinson had 17 followed by Ilija Bojanic with 15 and Justen Boyd, Joe Gonnam, and Steffan Williams each had 13. TCC’s Kurt Gruppen led all scorers with 22 points.
With the win, too, Judson completes a worst to first scenerio in the CCAC. Last season, JU finished last in the CCAC with a 1-9 record and now have bounced back with a 10-2 record this season for the championship.
One of the best shooting performances of the year for Judson became the difference in the game. JU shot 48% overall and made 10 three-pointers for 47%. In the second half, JU shot 50% from beyond the arc. The biggest barrier overcome, that has hurt JU in the past games, was free throw shooting as they made 85% missing only two free throws (12-of-14). TCC finished shooting 46% but a stifling Judson defense held the Trolls to just three three-pointers the entire game (21%).
With an exciting home atmosphere for Trinity Christian, their emotions pushed them to a 12-4 lead in the first five minutes of the game. They made three of their first four shots to take a 6-2 advantage. By the 15:51 mark, TCC was up, 12-4.
Judson responded on a 17-6 run in the next six minutes for a three-point lead, 21-18. JU took their first lead with 10:55 left in the half on a Boyd jumper. TCC’s Gruppend tied the game just 40 seconds later only to see JU’s Bojanic swoosh a three-pointer to retake the lead.
TCC tied the game for a third time at 23 on their first three-pointer of the game. That three-pointer was only one of three made the entire game. Judson fired right back making another three-pointer by Bojanic to start an 18-10 run the final 8:11 of the half. Judson never gave up the lead after that. Judson took an 11-point lead into the locker room as Robinson nailed a three-pointer just before the buzzer sounded.
Starting the second half on a 9-4 run, Judson moved their lead to 16-points, 53-37 (16:16). In the next 16 minutes, TCC slowly climbed back into the game. With 11:14 left, they cut the lead to nine, 56-47, and by the seven minute mark Judson only had a five-point lead, 61-56.
Oates and Boyd combined for the next five points on a three-pointer and lay up to push their lead back to 10. With 2:44 left, a Ebiowei Porbeni shot in the paint brought TCC within four, 71-67.
With four fouls to give, TCC fouled Judson three times over the next 1:22. With 1:21 to go, Robinson made two free throws for a seven-point lead and then 18 seconds later Williams made both of his for a nine-point lead, 76-67. One last lay up by TCC with 43 seconds left in the game cut the lead back to seven. Robinson was fouled with 20 seconds left and then made both free throws, again, to seal the victory.
With the win, Judson receives a first-round bye in the CCAC Tournament and will now be the #1 seed and host the CCAC Tournament at the Lindner Fitness Center. JU will now wait to see who they will play in the second round
With an exciting home atmosphere for Trinity Christian, their emotions pushed them to a 12-4 lead in the first five minutes of the game. They made three of their first four shots to take a 6-2 advantage. By the 15:51 mark, TCC was up, 12-4.
Judson responded on a 17-6 run in the next six minutes for a three-point lead, 21-18. JU took their first lead with 10:55 left in the half on a Boyd jumper. TCC’s Gruppend tied the game just 40 seconds later only to see JU’s Bojanic swoosh a three-pointer to retake the lead.
TCC tied the game for a third time at 23 on their first three-pointer of the game. That three-pointer was only one of three made the entire game. Judson fired right back making another three-pointer by Bojanic to start an 18-10 run the final 8:11 of the half. Judson never gave up the lead after that. Judson took an 11-point lead into the locker room as Robinson nailed a three-pointer just before the buzzer sounded.
Starting the second half on a 9-4 run, Judson moved their lead to 16-points, 53-37 (16:16). In the next 16 minutes, TCC slowly climbed back into the game. With 11:14 left, they cut the lead to nine, 56-47, and by the seven minute mark Judson only had a five-point lead, 61-56.
Oates and Boyd combined for the next five points on a three-pointer and lay up to push their lead back to 10. With 2:44 left, a Ebiowei Porbeni shot in the paint brought TCC within four, 71-67.
With four fouls to give, TCC fouled Judson three times over the next 1:22. With 1:21 to go, Robinson made two free throws for a seven-point lead and then 18 seconds later Williams made both of his for a nine-point lead, 76-67. One last lay up by TCC with 43 seconds left in the game cut the lead back to seven. Robinson was fouled with 20 seconds left and then made both free throws, again, to seal the victory.
With the win, Judson receives a first-round bye in the CCAC Tournament and will now be the #1 seed and host the CCAC Tournament at the Lindner Fitness Center. JU will now wait to see who they will play in the second round
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