Posted: Feb 24, 2024
SHREVEPORT, La. -- Dinari Boykin's 20 points and 12 rebounds paced fourth-seeded Colorado College's 71-70 upset of top-seeded Trinity University on Saturday afternoon in semifinal action of the 2024 SCAC Men's Basketball Tournament at Centenary College. Official Tournament Website | Photo Gallery | Postgame Interview | Men's Tournament Stats
Trailing by four with just seconds remaining, Trinity's Dean Balo connected on a 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds remaining to cut the Colorado College lead to 71-70. The Colorado Tigers were able to inbound the ball and prevented Trinity from any sort of shot attempt in securing the win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Trinity took an early 10-8 lead at the 13:31-mark after a Ty Williams free throw.
- Colorado College took a 13-12 lead after a 3-pointer from Kevin Dittman midway through the first half. From there, neither team led by more than four as the Colorado College Tigers took a slim 28-24 lead into the lockeroom at halftime.
- Trinity limited Colorado College to just 35.7 percent (10-of-28) shooting in the first half while the Texas Tigers connected at a 50.0 percent (10-of-20) clip.
- In the second half, Colorado College found its shooting touch as the Tigers shot a sizzling 57.1 percent (16-of-28) in the second half, including 7-of-12 (58.3 percent) from beyond the arc.
- Trinity held a slim 39-26 edge in rebounding while holding a 19-5 edge in fast break points.
COLORADO COLLEGE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Dinari Boykin: 20 points, 12 rebounds, 7-of-16 FG, four steals, two assists
- Scott Ruegg: 13 points, 5-of-12 FG 3-of-6 3FG, four assists, three steals
- Adrian Price: 9 points, six rebounds, 4-of-6 FG
- Asher Nofziger: 6 points, seven rebounds
TRINITY STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Christian Green: 18 points, 15 rebounds, 8-of-15 FG, four steals, one assist
- Dean Balo: 16 points, 6-of-7 FG, 2-of-3 3FG, two assists, one steal
- Tanner Brown: 11 points, nine rebounds, two steals
NOTABLE
- Colorado College advances to the SCAC championship game for the first time since 2016 and just the third time in program history (2013, 2016, 2024).
- The Colorado College Tigers become just the fourth number four seed to reach the championship game and the first four seed since Trinity in 2007 to advance to the title game.
- Trinity's loss as the top seed marks the second straight year the tournament's No. 1 seed has lost in the semifinal round. St. Thomas was upset by eventual champion Schreiner in last year's semifinal round.
- Four seeds are 1-2 all-time in the championship game.
- Colorado College is 0-2 in the championship game
- The Colorado College Tigers improve to 5-9 all-time in SCAC postseason play and 1-3 against Trinity in SCAC tournament action.
- Trinity, the number 10 team in the most recent D3hoops.com poll, falls to 23-3 on the season and will await word of a possible at-large bid to the 2024 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship when selections are announced on Monday. Entering the weekend, the Tigers were ranked second in Region X.
- The loss drops Trinity to 29-15 all-time in SCAC tournament play.
UP NEXT
Colorado College (16-11) advances to Sunday's SCAC men's title game where they will take on the winner of Centenary and St. Thomas with tip-off scheduled for Noon CT.
