It All Becomes Clear, Recapping the Week (February 16-19)

Sweet Tea in the Big South

Monday, February 16
Coastal Carolina - 65
Radford - 59

Coastal Carolina led 4-2. They wouldn't lead again until there was less than 6 minutes remaining. After having trailed by as many as 8 in the 2nd half, the Chanticleers chipped away until Josh Cameron's 3 pointer put them up 53-52. Radford did not give in easily and retook the lead. They were up 59-57 when Warren Gillis put Coastal Carolina on his back. He hit a jumper to tie the game at 59. He hit another jumper to put his team up 61-59. He made two free throws to extend the cushion to 4. At that point, the game was essentially over, but Gillis added two more free throws for good measure. All told, he scored the final 8 points of the game and gave the Chanticleers a much needed victory in the Big South. The win brings them into a tie with Radford for second place, a game behind first in the loss column. Coastal Carolina benefited from 19 points and 11 rebounds from Badou Diange who was a perfect 4 for 4 from 3. Javonte Green led Radford with 18 points.

Wednesday, February 18
High Point - 83
Gardner-Webb - 62
The logjam at the top of the Big South standings is starting to clear out. That was never more apparent than on Wednesday night. High Point, now tied for first place with just 1 other team, handled Gardner-Webb easily, who is now at the bottom of the pack of teams who once all stood tied together and in 7th place in the conference. Gardner-Webb jumped out to an early 5-0 lead, but when they went down 12-9 in the opening minutes of the game, it would be for good. High Point led by 12 at halftime and were never threatened in the 2nd half on their way to their 20th win of the year. They were led by Lorenzo Cugini's 19 points and 7 rebounds. High Point is now tied for first with just Charleston Southern, who the Panthers play in their regular season finale on February 28. 

Wednesday, February 18
Winthrop - 91
UNC Asheville - 70
The dust settles a little more in the crowded Big South. Winthrop got their 4th win in 5 tries to stay within a game of 1st, while UNC Asheville dropped their 2nd in a row to fall into 6th place. Such is life in the Big South. Had UNC Asheville won the game, they would be just a game out of first. As it stands, though, they're in 6th place and not likely to win the regular season title. They still face Radford and High Point, neither of which will be easy games. Winthrop, on the other hand, looks to be in great shape. The combined conference record of their remaining opponents is 12-32. They will need help to win the regular season, but if they win out it will certainly put pressure on the leaders.

Return of the MAC

Wednesday, February 18
Toledo - 68
Akron - 66
The MAC got no easier to decipher on Wednesday night. Bowling Green was looking like the class of the league having won 6 of 7. They were sitting alone in first place in the MAC East and were the only MAC team with just 3 conference losses. On Wednesday night, though, they lost a shocker at home to Miami (OH). And so the race continues. Toledo and Akron are both teams who are in the thick of it, and they played like the evenly matched teams they are on Wednesday. Toledo was up by 2 points at halftime and led by no more than 6 points in the 2nd half. The score was tied at 66 with 3:22 seconds left to play, and the score would remain 66-66 until there was 2 seconds in the game. That's when Julius Brown hit a step-back jumper to give the Rockets back the lead. Kwam Cheatham Jr. missed a last second shot for Akron, and the game was over. The Zips have now lost 2 in a row after getting big back-to-back victories over Buffalo and Kent St. They are still just a game back in the MAC East standings. Toledo remains in a tie for 1st in the MAC West and can circle March 3 on their calendars. That's when they will travel to Mount Pleasant to take on Central Michigan in a game that could determine the MAC West champion.

A-10 Out of 10

Wednesday, February 18
Davidson - 65
George Washington - 63
The George Washington slide continues. After their loss to Davidson on Wednesday night, the Colonials have now lost 5 out of 6 games. It has been a brutal stretch, to be sure. In those 6 games, GW has played VCU twice, at Rhode Island, Dayton, and Davidson. Even so, a 1-5 record in those games will not get to the NCAA Tournament. Joe Lunardi doesn't even have GW listed in his Next Four Out on his latest bracketology. Davidson is listed as the top Next Four Out team, and it is clear the Wildcats are playing better basketball right now. They have won 4 in a row and are one game out of 1st place in the crowded upper half of the A-10. They get a gimme game next against Fordham, but then the real test comes. In back-to-back-to-back games they play at Rhode Island, George Washington, and VCU. If they can win 2 of 3 in that stretch, they might be dancing.

As for the game on Wednesday night, it didn't always look so good for Davidson. They were down 8 at halftime, but scored the first 10 points of the 2nd half to go ahead. George Washington would end the run, but another Davidson bucket put them up for good. Jordan Barham had 15 points and Tyler Kalinoski had 11 and 10 rebounds to lead the way for the Wildcats who are looking to get back to the NCAA Tournament after missing out last year.

Wednesday, February 18
Rhode Island - 75
UMass - 59
Rhode Island may be the surprise of the A-10 this season, and their drubbing of UMass on Wednesday night may be one of the most surprising results of the season. UMass had won 6 in a row to get themselves back into bubble contention. They hold wins over Iona, Dayton, and Rhode Island and were listed as a Next Four Out team in Joe Lunardi's latest Bracketology. They improved their bubble status over the last several weeks, as the graphic below shows. How, then, do they get trounced by 16 in what was a very important game for the Minutemen? Perhaps they were looking ahead to their now-even-bigger Saturday matchup in Richmond against VCU. Or maybe surprising Rhode Island is just that good. The Rams remain tied for first place in the A-10 and are getting amazing production from their underclassmen. Four of their top 5 scorers are Sophomores or Freshman. That held true on Wednesday night as well - their 4 leading scorers were all underclassmen. It was only the 7th game all season in which the Rams scored 75 or more points. They're a perfect 7-0 in those games. Rhode Island is still on the outside looking in as far as tournament contention is concerned, but they still have big games left against Davidson and Dayton before the A-10 Tournament. Those are probably must-wins for the Rams if they want to dance in March. 

I'm Feeling Very Colonial Today. Powdered Wigs for All!

Wednesday, February 18
Northeastern - 75
William & Mary - 64

There might not be any hope of an at-large bid here, but that doesn't make the CAA race any less compelling. Northeastern handed William & Mary their 2nd straight loss on Wednesday night to pull themselves into a 3-way tie for 2nd place. The top-tier teams have all played each other already, so this race is going to come down to beating the teams you should beat. If UNC Wilmington holds, they will be crowned regular season champs. If they falter, Northeastern, William & Mary, or James Madison could swoop in. Northeastern put themselves in good position with their win over the Tribe. It was a convincing victory, too. The Huskies went up 14 in the opening minutes of the 2nd half and never let William & Mary back to within single digits. They were led by David Walker's 21 points and 7 assists. Terry Tarpey and Marcus Thornton each had 17 points in the losing effort for the Tribe.

Southern Basketballin'

Thursday, February 19
Chattanooga - 74
Mercer - 61
Chattanooga confirmed that they are the 2nd best team in the Southern Conference. The Mocs remain just a game behind Wofford with 3 left conference games left to play after their 13 point win over Mercer. Mercer, meanwhile, falls 3 behind and a regular season championship is looking bleak. They gave Chattanooga all they could handle for 30 minutes playing even with Chattanooga until the Mocs went on a 15-4 run to put the game away. Mercer shot just 39% for the game, while Chattanooga shot better than 53%. The Mocs got 17 points off the bench from Ronrico White and 16 points and 7 rebounds from Greg Pryor.

C-USA: From Sea to Shining Texas

Thursday, February 19
UAB - 71
Western Kentucky - 66
UAB helped to clear up the C-USA race a bit by beating Western Kentucky on Thursday. The 2 teams are now both 2 games behind C-USA leader Louisiana Tech and 1 game behind second place UTEP in the loss column. Both will look back at this stretch of the season with regrets too. UAB and Western Kentucky both entered the game on 2 game losing streaks. UAB stops the bleeding and now finishes the season with 3 of 4 games against the bottom half of C-USA. Western Kentucky finishes with 3 of 5 on the road and needs to right the ship soon if they want to enter the C-USA Tournament with a bye.

UAB led for most of the game, but the Hilltoppers did not go quietly. They got to within 3 when Aleksej Rostov hit a 3-pointer with 35 seconds to play. The Blazers did their job on the free throw line, though, and sealed the victory. The Blazers were led by Nick Norton with 13, and the Hilltoppers leading scorer was T.J. Price with 22. 

Howdy, Partner, Welcome to the Big West

Thursday, February 19
UC Davis - 65
Long Beach St. - 58
UC Davis won their 11th game in 12 tries on Thursday night and completed the season sweep of Long Beach St. in the process. The Aggies remain comfortably in 1st place in the Big West holding a 2 game advantage over UC Irvine. Long Beach St. will stay in 3rd place, but they are now 4 games off the pace in the loss column. A regular season title is mostly fantasy at this point for The Beach who have lost 4 straight. UC Davis was led by Corey Hawkins' 26 points, and Long Beach St. was led by David Samuels and Mike Caffey who both had 15.

Long Beach St.: More Than Just a Shiny Court

The Beach, as they like to call themselves. When you play basketball at Long Beach St. University (LBSU), it would be easy to get lost in the locale. Walter Pyramid, where LBSU plays their home basketball games, is within 15 minutes of a beach and 30 minutes of Los Angeles and Anaheim. LBSU is so connected to the coastal life that they have palm trees painted on their court. Do not let that fool you. When you play basketball for Dan Monson at LBSU, you will get a true collegiate basketball experience.

LBSU might play in the Big West Conference, a so-called mid-major, but you would not know that following them through their gauntlet of a non-conference schedule. For the last five years, LBSU's non-conference strength of schedule has ranked 9, 11, 16, 1, and 7 in the country. LBSU is not scared to play anyone or anywhere. During those five years, LBSU has played more non-conference road/neutral games than home games in four of the five years including 12 road games this year. At one point this year, LBSU played six of eight games against likely tournament teams over a 30 day period.

LBSU has had mixed success with this challenging strategy. LBSU had a losing record in non-conference games in four of those five seasons, but it has prepared them to compete every year in the Big West. In those five years, LBSU has gone 60-17 in the Big West regular season and finished in first place three times. LBSU is currently 7-4 in Big West games this year and within contention for first place.

The current LBSU 49ers are hoping to recreate the magic from their storied 2011-2012 season when they made the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2007. In the 2011-2012 season, LBSU beat Pittsburgh and Xavier in road/neutral games during their non-conference schedule. LBSU then went on to finish 15-1 in the Big West regular season and won the Big West conference tournament. As a 12 seed in the NCAA tournament, LBSU gave pesky New Mexico a run for their money. New Mexico would go on to nearly upset Louisville who made the Final Four. This year with non-conference wins over Xavier, Kansas St, and Western Michigan, the 49ers are hoping to get another shot in the NCAA tournament for the eight seniors on the roster. Those seniors account for two-thirds of the team's points led by Mike Caffey with 17 points per game.

The Big West regular season title frontrunner is currently UC Davis (9-1), but UC Irvine (7-3), LBSU (7-4), and UC Santa Barbara (6-4) are all within striking distance. The race got right down to business the opening weekend of conference play with LBSU having to travel to UC Irvine and UC Davis over a three day stretch. LBSU defeated UC Irvine by six points, but lost to UC Davis in overtime. That loss was LBSU's only conference loss until a recent three game skid. The fight for the top spot could take a big turn this Thursday as LBSU takes on UC Davis at home. The Big West regular season title could come down to the very end as UC Davis faces UC Irvine to finish their seasons. LBSU needs a big win tomorrow night against UC Davis to stay in the race.

The Beach, a fine example of what a mid-major is supposed to be. LBSU's schedule fears nothing. The 49ers are not here just to play a little basketball and soak up some rays in the sand. The Beach is here to win championships starting with the Big West regular season title.

The Week Ahead, February 16-19

Sweet Tea in the Big South

Monday, February 16, 8:00PM Coastal Carolina @ Radford

We have spent a lot of time covering the Big South race, which is probably the best mid-major conference race out there right now. Every week, seemingly every day, there is another game that will impact the top tier of the standings in this league. Monday night's game between Coastal Carolina and Radford is just another example. Radford lost three straight in late December and early January, but they have won 10 out of 11 since then. Their only loss in that stretch was to Charleston Southern, who is also tied for first place in the Big South. Coastal Carolina is a game behind those two teams. At one point they lost 4 out of 5 but have since won 3 of 4 to get back into the race. Coastal Carolina plays the bottom-feeders of the Big South in their last three games, so this is their last test before the conference tournament. Radford, on the other hand, plays two teams who are in the top three in the league in their last three games.

Wednesday, February 18, 7:00PM Gardner-Webb @ High Point

Wednesday night brings us two more games of meaning in the Big South. Gardner-Webb plays High Point in a game that probably means more to Bulldogs than it does to the Panthers because they are now 2 games behind first place. High Point has 2 games against top-Big South teams remaining, so they control their destiny a bit more. Gardner-Webb, at 2 games behind, cannot afford to drop another game to a team ahead of them in the standings. That is going to mean a big winning streak for Gardner-Webb because 3 of their last 4 games are against teams tied for first place in the Big South. They need to get their game going now because they have lost 2 in a row coming into the game.

Wednesday, February 18, 7:00PM UNC Asheville @ Winthrop

This game does not involve a team in first place in the Big South, but they are both one of three teams currently tied for second. The winner of this game could easily end the week in prime position for the Big South tournament. The loser, on the other hand, could fall to 6th place. UNC Asheville got a big win over Gardner-Webb, but then dropped a surprising game to Presbyterian. They also face a gauntlet down the stretch: Winthrop, Radford, High Point, Liberty. Winthrop has now won 3 of 4 and faces a much easier schedule the rest of the way. In fact, UNC Asheville is their biggest test left.

Return of the MAC

Wednesday, February 18, 7:00PM Toledo @ Akron

Toledo had won 6 in a row before their loss to Kent St. They are still tied for first place in the MAC West and have a two game cushion over third place Western Michigan. Akron is tied for 2nd in the MAC East. This game will be a test for the Zips to see if they can slow down Toledo's offense, which scores 75.4 points per game, good enough for 28th in the country.

A-10 Out of 10

Wednesday, February 18, 7:00PM Davidson @ George Washington

Both teams still harbor hopes of an at-large to the NCAA Tournament. Both cannot afford a loss in this game. George Washington is reeling after having lost their 4th game in 5 tries to VCU last weekend. They have a great win over Wichita St., but they also have a bad loss to Duquesne and a not-so-good loss to LaSalle. Losing 5 of 6 and falling to 7-6 in A-10 play would be a death sentence for their at-large hopes. Davidson is a game ahead of George Washington in the standings right now and have won 3 in a row. All those wins are over inferior competition, though, and the signature win for the Wildcats is, well, there isn't one. Dayton or UMass are probably the two best wins here, which isn't going to amaze anyone on the committee. They need to have a solid finish. It starts on Wednesday night.

Wednesday, February 18, 7:00PM UMass @ Rhode Island

Joe Lunardi has both of these teams out of the tournament at this point. UMass is on the Next Four Out list, at least, but Rhode Island is nowhere to be seen. The Rams are trending in the right direction, though. They have won 6 out of 7. The loss was a bad one, though, to St. Joe's. They have chances to get a few quality wins down the stretch. The still play UMass, Davidson, and Dayton. They probably need all three to improve their at-large hopes. UMass has won 6 in a row and is looking more and more like a potential at-large team. If they can beat Rhode Island, they set up a big game at VCU on Saturday. The A-10 should be a fun ride down the stretch.

I'm Feeling Very Colonial Today. Powdered Wigs for All!

Wednesday, February 18, 7:00PM William & Mary @ Northeastern

William & Mary lost a bit of a shocker at home to Delaware on Saturday, which dropped them into a tie in first place in the Colonial. Half of their losses in the CAA this season are to Delaware. Northeastern is just a game behind, but the Huskies lost by 16 the last time the two teams met. Northeastern is also just 4-5 in their last 9 games. If they want to win the regular season title, they need to start getting Ws again. A win over William & Mary would be a good start.

Southern Basketballin'

Thursday, February 19, 7:00PM Mercer @ Chattanooga


These are the only two teams who can catch Wofford in the Southern standings. Chattanooga is a game ahead of Mercer, but the Mocs do not play Wofford again this season. They will need help if they are going to win the regular season title. Mercer is 2 games behind Wofford but still plays them once. If either team is to catch Wofford, though, they have to win this game. It will be a case of offense versus defense. Chattanooga scores 73 points per game, while Mercer only gives up 61.7 points per game. 

C-USA: From Sea to Shining Texas

Thursday, February 19, 8:00PM Western Kentucky @ UAB

The C-USA race is probably the second most appealing race behind the Big South. Old Dominion, the league's best chance for an at-large bid, sits in 5th place. Western Kentucky and UAB are in 3rd and 4th respectively. Western Kentucky is coming off back-to-back losses, both to teams at or below .500 in conference play. They need to right the ship or they risk missing out on a bye in the first round of C-USA Tournament. UAB is nursing a 2-game losing streak of their own and is already behind Western Kentucky by a game in the loss column. It's a must-win for both teams if they want to hold out any hope for a regular season championship.

Howdy, Partner, Welcome to the Big West

Thursday, February 19, 10:00PM UC Davis @ Long Beach St.

This game was probably more appealing a few weeks ago before Long Beach St. started their 3 game losing streak. Still, a win by the 49ers gets them trending in the right direction leading up to the Big West Tournament. UC Davis has won 10 of 11 and is already trending in the right direction. They have a 2 game lead over second place in the Big West and are looking like the team to beat. 

Weekend Games We're Keeping Our Eye On:

• Cleveland St. @ Green Bay
• UMass @ VCU
• IPFW @ North Dakota St.
• Northeastern @ Drexel
• Radford @ UNC Asheville
• Princeton @ Harvard
• Louisiana Tech @ Old Dominion
• New Mexico St. @ Grand Canyon
• Gonzaga @ St. Mary's
• Monmouth @ Iona

A Tale of Two Halves, Weekend Recap (February 13-15)

Return of the MAC
Friday, February 13
Kent St. - 76
Toledo - 75

These two teams played a back and forth game that needed overtime to determine a winner. Regulation and overtime both ended in dramatic fashion. Kent St. had a chance to win the game in regulation when Devereaux Manley made 1 of 2 free throws with 5.3 seconds left to put the Golden Flashes up by 2. Toledo also had a chance to win the game, though, because Stuckey Mosley took the ensuing inbounds pass straight down the court, made a layup to tie the game, and got fouled. With just 0.6 seconds left, he missed the free throw that would have all but won the game for Toledo. In overtime, Toledo's J.D. Weatherspoon made 2 free throws that tied the game with 31 seconds left. Kent St. intended to go for a final shot, but Kris Brewer was fouled with 2.1 seconds left. He made 1 of 2 free throws. Brewer finished the game with 21 points. Toledo had three players finish the game with a double-double (Justin Drummond, J.D. Weatherspoon, and Nathan Boothe), but it wasn't enough to get their 7th win in a row. They are now tied for first in the MAC West with Central Michigan, and they will face Akron next in another challenging game. Kent St. remains just a game back in the MAC East and now get more of a break in their next few games against Ball St., Ohio, and Miami (OH).

Poison Ivy League
Friday, February 13
Harvard - 72
Columbia - 68

Harvard got the win they needed to stay in first place in the Ivy League standings, but it didn't come easily. Wesley Saunders hit the go-ahead and eventual game-winning shot with just 2.9 seconds left. He finished the game with 18 points, but the bucket at the end were his only points in the second half. Saunders wasn't the old one who struggled for the Crimson in the second half. They led by as many as 19 points in the first half and held a 17 point lead at halftime. Columbia stormed back in the second half with an early 11-0. The Lions were still down by 6 with under 4 minutes to play, but they hit back-to-back 3 pointers to tie the game at 68 with 8 seconds left. That's when Saunders came through for the Crimson and saved the team from blowing their huge first half lead. Harvard also beat Cornell on Saturday, so they remain in first place in the Ivy League.

Saturday, February 14
Yale - 81
Princeton - 73

Yale handled Penn on Friday night to set up their game with Princeton on Saturday. That game went much like Harvard's game with Columbia. Yale scored the first 11 points of the game and led by 11 at halftime. Princeton began the second half on a 15-4 run, though, and tied the game at 43. Yale took the lead again, but Princeton came back to tie it at 59 with under 8 minutes left. Yale's Makai Mason hit a 3 just after that to put them up for good. Princeton never had a lead in the game. Yale was led by Justin Sears who scored 25 points and had 10 rebounds. Princeton got a career high 25 from Henry Caruso. Yale stays in first place in the Ivy League, while Princeton falls to third. 


Look to the Horizon
Friday, February 13
Valparaiso - 63
Green Bay - 59

Cleveland St.'s loss to Detroit meant that this game between Green Bay and Valparaiso would be for sole possession of first place in the Horizon League. Valpo led for most of the first half and took a 6 point lead into the break. They would go up by as many as 15 before Green Bay started their comeback. They got to within 3 with just 35 seconds left, but good free throw shooting sealed the game for Valpo. They were led by Trevonn Walker, who had 20 points, and Alec Peteres who had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Valpo, as usual, dominated the boards. They out-rebounded Green Bay by 15.

MAAC Ataack
Friday, February 13
Iona - 70
Manhattan - 67

Iona beat Manhattan to continue their domination in the MAAC. They have now won 12 of 13 games and are two games ahead of Rider in the standings. The Gaels made 11 three pointers in the game including 6 from A.J. English. English and Schadrac Casimir both finished the game with 22 points.

A-10 Out of 10
Saturday, February 14
Dayton - 75
St. Bonaventure - 61

Dayton will remain tied for first place in the A-10 after handling St. Bonaventure on Saturday. There is now a four-team logjam atop the A-10 standings. The Bonnies were playing without starting point guard Jaylen Adams who is out indefinitely after having surgery on his hand. In his absence, they turned the ball over 17 times compared with just 6 assists. Dayton has now won 3 of 4. They will be favored in their next three games against St. Joe's, Duquesne, and George Mason to set up a critical stretch where they will travel to Richmond to play VCU and then host Rhode Island.


Saturday, February 14
VCU - 79
George Washington - 66

Both teams came into this game having lost 3 of 4. VCU was struggling without Briante Weber, and George Washington was struggling to remain on the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble. It was a critical game for these two A-10 teams. VCU got the win and will remain in first place. George Washington continues it's tailspin and now is dangerously close to the cut line for a tournament birth. It doesn't get much easier for the Colonials either. Five of their last 6 games are against teams who are .500 or better in A-10 play.

Sweet Tea in the Big South
Saturday, February 14
Winthrop - 71
Gardner-Webb - 68

Both of these teams needed a win to keep their hopes of winning the Big South regular season title alive. Winthrop came away with the hard-fought win. Winthrop went into halftime up by 16, and it looked like they would cruise to the win. Gardner-Webb fought back in the second half chipping away at that lead little by little. They finally took the lead with just 1:30 seconds left to play. Winthrop answered when Tevin Prescott hit a go-ahead shot with just 5 seconds left. Gardner-Webb had a chance on their last possession but turned the ball over. Winthrop stays just a game behind first place in the Big South, while Gardner-Webb drops to two behind. A two-game deficit doesn't seem like much, but they are behind 6 other teams.

Race You to the Summit
Saturday, February 14
South Dakota St. - 68
North Dakota St. - 58

North Dakota St. took the lead at 50-47 with under 8 minutes to play. Losing the lead sparked the Jackrabbits, though, who went on a 15-4 run from that point to essentially put the game away. The win secured a split in the season series for the Jackrabbits and moved them into a tie for first place in the Summit League with North Dakota St. The 2 teams now hold a 2 game lead over IPFW, which may be insurmountable since only 3 conference games remain for both teams. 

MWC You in March
Saturday, February 14
San Diego St. - 72
Colorado St. - 63

In consecutive games San Diego St. has beaten 2 of their biggest competitors in the Mountain West Conference. First, it was a convincing win over Wyoming. Next, it was the wire-to-wire win they got over Colorado St. on Saturday night. The Aztecs took the lead at 20-19 and never trailed in the game again. The 72 points for San Diego St. was the most they've scored in a game since the last time they played Colorado St., but that game was a loss for the Aztecs. They were never seriously threatened in this game, though, and have now won 9 of 11 to take command of the Mountain West race. They are a game ahead and only have one game left against a team with a winning record in conference.

I'm Feeling Very Colonial Today. Powdered Wigs for All!
Saturday, February 14
UNC-Wilmington - 66
Northeastern - 61

A William & Mary loss meant the winner of this game would move into a tie for first place in the CAA. UNC-Wilmington got 16 points from Addison Sprull to give them the win and that taste of first. The game was close, but clutch free throw shooting a big three from Freddie Jackson with under 2 minutes to play gave UNC-Wilmington the win. The remaining teams on the Seahawks' schedule have a combined record of just 23-33, so UNC-Wilmington has the advantage down the stretch in the Colonial. Northeastern, on the other hand, faces William & Mary and Drexel in their next two games, which now are must-win games in they have hopes of winning the regular season title.

C-USA: From Sea to Shining...Texas
Saturday, February 14
UTEP - 62
Old Dominion - 47

Old Dominion's at-large hopes are all but gone after the 15 point loss they suffered at the hands of the UTEP Miners on Saturday. ODU is now just 5-5 since they broke into the top 25 earlier this season and are in 5th place in C-USA. UTEP is just one game out of first place after the win. The Miners dropped a shocker to Marshall in late January but have won 6 games in a row since then and have a showdown with first place Louisiana Tech looming on the schedule on February 26. That game could be for first place in C-USA. Old Dominion is now looking at missing not only the NCAA Tournament but also missing out on a bye in the C-USA Tournament. It's a drastic fall for a team that just a few weeks ago looked like a lock for the Big Dance.

The Weekend Ahead, February 13-15

The Weekend Ahead, February 13-15

Return of the MAC

Friday, February 13, 6:00PM Kent St. @ Toledo – Kent St. has fallen on hard times of late having lost 3 of 4. Even so, they are only a game back of first in the MAC East. The schedule gets easier after this game with Toledo, but a loss might put the regular season championship out of reach for the Golden Flashes. Toledo is clinging to a one game lead in the MAC West and has won 6 games in a row. This stretch is among their toughest all season. They had Buffalo last week, Kent St. this weekend, and Akron next week - all three teams in the hunt for the MAC East championship. Toledo beat Buffalo already. The next test is Kent St.

Poison Ivy League

Friday, February 13, 6:00PM Columbia @ Harvard – No Ivy League conference tournament means the regular season games take on that much more value. Columbia still has an outside shot to win the Ivy League title, especially if they beat the Crimson, but really this game is more about Harvard. The Crimson lost a shocker at home to bottom-dweller Dartmouth, but rebounded by winning their next four, including a huge win on the road against Yale last week. That loss is Yale’s only conference loss so far, though, so Harvard needs to win this game against Columbia to keep pace.

Saturday, February 14, 6:00PM Yale @ Princeton – This matchup is a mirror image of the Columbia/Harvard game on Friday night. Yale, tied for first place in the Ivy League, is looking to stay even with Harvard, but faces a test in a good Princeton team. Princeton still has a shot at the Ivy League title, sitting just a game behind Harvard and Yale. If the Tigers can upset Yale, this becomes a three-team race. Yale, on the other hand, can take control of the Ivy League with a Harvard loss and a win over Princeton. The most likely scenario for the Ivy League, though, is a two-team race between Harvard and Yale. They face each other on March 6, a game which could determine the automatic bid for the NCAA Tournament.

Look to the Horizon

Friday, February 13, 7:00PM Green Bay @ Valparaiso – The winner of this game will remain in first place in the Horizon League, while the loser will fall into third. Valpo comes in having won 9 of their last 10. The only loss? By one point on the road against, you guessed it, Green Bay. Green Bay boasts the best non-conference win in the Horizon League this season – a 13 point victory at Miami – but they are just 1-2 against the top 4 teams in the Horizon League this year. The one win, of course, was over Valpo. Valpo is a great rebounding team, so they need a big rebounding margin if they’re going to win. Green Bay plays solid defense, so a low-scoring affair would be in their best interest.

MAAC Attaack

Friday, February 13, 10:00PM Iona @ Manhattan - Iona is starting to run away with the MAAC. They have opened up a 2 game lead over second place Rider. Manhattan is sitting in third place and needs a win to stay alive in the regular season race and bring Iona back to the pack.

A-10 Out of 10

Saturday, February 14, 12:30PM St. Bonaventure @ Dayton - My how things change. Just a week ago the A-10 looked like VCU's to lose. Now, with an injury to their defensive all-star Briante Weber, the Rams look vulnerable. Two of the teams ready to pounce are St. Bonaventure and Dayton. The Bonnies are coming off a win over VCU, but they still sit 2 games out of first place. Dayton is currently in first, tied with three other teams, but they are just 3-3 over their last 6 games. If they're going to stay in first, they need a win. If St. Bonaventure is going to make their move, they also have to win. It's an intriguing matchup with A-10 standings and NCAA Tournament bubble implications.

Saturday, February 14, 2:00PM VCU @ George Washington – VCU handled George Washington with ease just two weeks ago when the two teams met in Richmond. That was before Briante Weber’s season ending injury, however. The Rams are still figuring out how to play without him and have all of a sudden lost 3 of 4, including a buzzer-beater loss on the road against St. Bonaventure and a double overtime loss at home to La Salle. George Washington has also lost 3 of 4 to put themselves in jeopardy of missing the NCAA Tournament altogether. They are coming off perhaps the most shocking result of the week last week: a convincing loss to Duquesne. A win over the Havoc of VCU would go a long way to showing the Selection Committee that the Colonials are still deserving of a tournament bid. No matter how you slice it, both teams need victories here. 

Sweet Tea in the Big South

Saturday, February 14, 1:00PM Gardner-Webb @ Winthrop – Remember the glutton of teams at the top of the Big South? The number of teams in first has shrunk to 3, but there are now 4 teams tied in the loss column in second place. Gardner-Webb and Winthrop among them. Both teams are coming off losses and both teams cannot afford to drop two in a row if they have any hopes of winning the Big South title. It's another crucial game in the top-heavy Big South.

Race You to the Summit

Saturday, February 14, 5:00PM North Dakota St. @ South Dakota St. – The top two teams in the Summit League will meet on Saturday in a matchup that could determine the number one seed in that conference tournament. North Dakota St. beat the Jackrabbits by 3 at home in their first meeting. Since that game, South Dakota St. has won 9 of 10 to set up the rematch. North Dakota St. has won 5 in a row overall and already holds a one-game lead over South Dakota State, so the Jackrabbits need the win more. Only three conference games will remain for both teams after this game.

MWC You in March

Saturday, February 14, 8:00PM Colorado St. @ San Diego St. – Colorado St. is currently a game behind San Diego St. in the Mountain West standings. Colorado St. beat San Diego St. in their game earlier this season, but they have split their season series with Boise St. and lost twice to Wyoming. They are just 6-4 since starting the season 14-0. Another win over San Diego St. would prove that start was no fluke and give legitimacy to their at-large considerations. The Aztecs are coming off a convincing win over Wyoming and could prove that they are the team to beat in the Mountain West with a win over the Rams. As is always the case, San Diego St. will try to shut down the offensive attack of Colorado St. A low scoring game greatly benefits the Aztecs here.

I'm Feeling Very Colonial Today. Powdered Wigs for All!

Saturday, February 14, 8:00PM Northeastern @ UNC-Wilmington - Both teams sit a game behind William & Mary for first place in the CAA. A loss makes it much harder to claim the regular season title. A win keeps William & Mary in striking distance.

C-USA: From Sea to Shining...Texas

Saturday, February 14, 9:00PM Old Dominion @ UTEP – There was a time when Old Dominion looked like a lock for an at-large bid to the Big Dance. Those days are fading fast. The Monarchs are just 3-3 over their last 6 games and currently sit in 5th place in C-USA. UTEP doesn’t have the shiny non-conference wins Old Dominion does, but they have put together a solid season and sit a game ahead of ODU in the C-USA standings after winning their last 5 games. Their NCAA Tournament hopes rest on winning the Conference USA Tournament, though. A win over Old Dominion would keep them in the hunt for the regular season title and set them up with good seeding. A loss for either team probably means no first round bye and slogging through the early rounds of the C-USA Tournament.

Next Week's Games We Have Our Eye On

• Coastal Carolina @ Radford - The Big South race is so close, we will probably have our eye on at least one game from here until the conference tournament.
• Toledo @ Akron - Toledo faces their third MAC East opponent in as many games. If they come out of that stretch 2-1 or 3-0, they'll be sitting pretty for MAC Tournament seeding.
• Gardner-Webb @ High Point - See above for Big South madness.
• UNC Asheville @ Winthrop - Did we mention the Big South is crazy?
• Davidson @ George Washington - This has become a huge game for both A-10 standings and for NCAA Tournament hopes. Both teams are desperate for a quality win at this point.
• William & Mary @ Northeastern - The Colonial Athletic Association could come down to this game. Northeaster has UNC-Wilmington before, but if they win that one, this game is for first place.
• UMass @ Rhode Island - Rhode Island is coming off a bad loss to St. Joe's. UMass has won 5 straight. Both are still alive for at-large hopes, but they can't afford to lose many more.
• Mercer @ Chattanooga - Wofford is in first place, but this game is for second. The loser shouldn't expect to win the regular season title. The winner stays alive in the Southern Conference.
• Western Kentucky @ UAB - Western Kentucky is tied for first in the loss column, and UAB sits just a game behind. C-USA is full of good teams who are probably going to fall just short of at-large bids. Seeding in the C-USA Tournament is crucial because winning that tournament is the only chance at the Big Dance for both teams.
• UC Davis @ Long Beach St. - LBSU is two games behind UC Davis in the Big West, so a win is a must if they want to take hope the regular season championship.

Recapping the Week, February 9-12

Recapping the Week, February 9-12

This Land is Your Land, This Land is Southland
Monday, February 9
Stephen F. Austin - 93
Northwestern St. - 82

Stephen F. Austin kept their Southland domination going with an 11 point win over Northwestern St. on Monday night. Ty Charles was the player of the game for Stephen F. Austin scoring 19 and adding 5 assists and 2 steals. Jalan West stuffed the stat sheet in a losing effort for Northwestern St. He had 28 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block. Stephen F. Austin remains unbeaten in Southland play while Northwestern St. falls to 7-4.

Return of the MAC
Tuesday, February 10
Akron - 61
Kent St. - 52

Akron has now won 5 of 6 after beating Kent St. on Tuesday night. Deji Ibitayo scored 11 off the bench for the Zips who are tied for first place in the MAC East with Bowling Green - a team the Zips have beaten twice already this season. Kent St., who has now lost 3 of 4, was led by 20 points from Devareaux Manley. Kent St. will face another tough challenge in their next game when they take on MAC West leader Toledo. Akron travels to Eastern Michigan for their next game.

Tuesday, February 10
Toledo - 92
Buffalo - 88

Toledo continued their winning streak on Tuesday night by beating Buffalo on the road. The Rockets have now won 6 in a row since losing back to back games in mid-January. All five starters scored in double figures for Toledo including leading scorer Julius Brown who had 25. Buffalo was led by Justin Moss who had a career high 33 points. He also added 10 rebounds for his 11th double-double of the year. Buffalo has now lost 2 in a row and faces another test in their next game against Central Michigan. The Bulls are 2 games back in the MAC East and can't afford another loss if they hope to win the MAC regular season championship. Toledo stays in sole possession of first place in the MAC West after the win.

Sweet Tea in the Big South
Wednesday, February 11
High Point - 73
Winthrop - 72

The race in the Big South gets some clarity after Wednesday night's games. The debate over who is the best team? Still debatable. High Point and Winthrop played an evenly matched and hard fought game that came down to the wire. Winthrop led by 10 points with just 3:28 left, but High Point would go on a 11-2 run to set up a wild finish. Winthrop was up by one point and was at the line with a chance to go up by three. Keon Johnson missed the front end of the one-and-one, though, and High Point's John Brown was fouled going for the rebound. He made both of his free throws to seal the win for High Point. They remain in first place, tied with three other teams atop the Big South standing. Winthrop will fall a game behind the leaders.

Charleston Southern - 83
Coastal Carolina - 72

Charleston Southern also remains tied for the lead in the Big South after they beat Coastal Carolina. Coastal Carolina drops into a three-way tie just behind the leaders. Saah Nimley led Charleston Southern in scoring with 24 points and Will Saunders added 18 and 8 rebounds off the bench. Charleston Southern shot 50% and hit 9 three-pointers in the win. The Chanticleers, on the other hand, shot just 40% for the game. Coastal Carolina should get back to their winning ways in their next game against Big South bottom-dweller Liberty. Charleston Southern also has a bit of a relief game next when they play Longwood.

MWC You in March
Wednesday, February 11
San Diego State - 67
Wyoming - 41

Aztec fans will see Wednesday night's blowout win as a statement game. A win to prove that San Diego State is the premier team in the Mountain West Conference. Wyoming fans will tell you it was their team trying to figure out how to play without leading scorer Larry Nance Jr. It Doesn't mean much, they would say. Cowboys fans better hope not, anyway. San Diego State dominated the game from the tip. They led 36-14 at halftime and would only increase that lead in the second half. They were led by Winston Shepard and Ageel Quinn who both scored 18. As usual, though, it was their defense that was most impressive. They held Wyoming to just 35% shooting and 11.5% shooting from the three point line. The Cowboys made only 3 three-pointers in the game. The chart above highlights how San Diego State wins games: defense. As you can see, when they give up more points, they struggle to score enough to win. That was not a problem on Wednesday night, though. Wyoming has now lost 2 in a row and needs to get back on track in their next game against San José State or they risk falling out of the Mountain West race. San Diego State now sits alone in first place and will have another test against Colorado State in their next game.

James Bond Will Return in...Big Skyfall
Thursday, February 12
Eastern Washington - 64
Sacramento State - 61

For awhile in the second half it looked like this game would be a runaway. Eastern Washington was avenging their 90-77 loss to Sacramento State in style. They led by 16 with just 7 minutes left. Sacramento State was not going to go easily, though. They went on a 19-4 run to pull within 1 with 4 seconds left. They fouled Eastern Washington's Drew Brandon, who had 13 points on the night, played every minute of the game, and didn't miss a free throw the entire game. He made both of his free throws on this foul, of course, to give the Eagles a 3 point lead. Sacramento State had a chance to tie the game but turned the ball over on their ensuing inbound play sealing the win for Eastern Washington. They were led by 20 points from Mihk McKinney in their losing effort. The Hornets fall to a game behind in the loss column, while Eastern Washington will move into sole possession of first place with the win.