Lower Seed Madness Prevails in B1G Ten Men’s tournament in Chicago on Day Two

Rutgers Strong second-half advances past Michigan 62 to 50

by: Steven Stremming

photos by: Anthony Harper

The Scarlet Knights used a strong defensive effort, holding the Wolverines to four of twenty-three shots in the second half of the opening tilt in the United Center of the B1G Ten Men’s basketball tournament, overcoming a 28 to 25 halftime deficit.

Rutgers moves on to face #1 seeded Purdue Boilermakers, while taking everything into account, this loss probably sends Michigan to the N.I.T.

Derek Simpson was huge for the Scarlet Knights as he recorded over 36 minutes of floor time and shined as did Cameron Spencer.

Simpson put up 13 points on six of sixteen field goals, five rebounds, three assists in the win.

Spencer led the Knights with 18 points on six of eleven field goals.

Paul Mulcahy, provided yet another solid line with eight points, five boards, five assists and three steals.

Caleb McConnell, Co-B1G Ten Defensive player of the year accounted for nine boards and Cliff Omoruyi totaled nine boards too.

Antwone Woolfolk, in his eleven minutes was solid as he hit three of six from the field for six points.

Michigan was led again by B1G Ten 1st team player, Hunter Dickinson, who tallied 24 points on eight of seventeen shots from the field and seven rebounds. Kobe Bufkin totaled nine points, with seven boards, five assists but had half of the Michigan turnovers for the game (seven of the team’s fourteen).

Rutgers shot 39.3% percent from the field on 24 of 61 shots while recording 37 rebounds and 15 assists while Michigan shot 34.8% percent from the floor, while recording 30 boards and also added 15 assists.

Lower Seed Madness Continues in United Center/Buckeyes Upend Iowa 73 to 69

by: Steven Stremming

photos by: Anthony Harper

In an already wild B1G Ten basketball tournament, where the first three games were claimed by the lower seeded team, the fourth game didn’t disappoint as the Buckeyes eliminated Iowa.

The Buckeyes got a strong effort from their freshmen, in name only now, Roddy Gayle, Jr., Brice Sensabaugh and Bruce Thornton.

Buckeye Justice Sueng scored 14 points and five rebounds to help steady Ohio State down the stretch in a wild finish.

Gayle would score nine points, Thornton, 17 points on eight of thirteen shots and six assists while Sensabaugh would add 16 points on eight of fourteen shooting from the floor.

Isaac Likekele added five assists in eleven minutes of action.

The Buckeyes would shot 49.2% from the field for the game, claim 29 rebounds and 17 assists.

For the Hawkeyes, All-B1G Ten first teamer and All-American Kris Murray would score 17 points, on seven of seventeen from the floor, add six rebounds and a team high five assists.

Filip Rebraca would lead Iowa with 20 points on seven of twelve from the floor and seven rebounds while Lawrence North product, Tony Perkins would continue his run of solid games with 16 points on six of twelve from the floor and six rebounds. Patrick McCafferey would add nine in the Hawkeye column.

Iowa would shoot 46.4% from the field for the game, claim 31 rebounds and 11 assists.

Ohio State moves on to face Michigan State on Friday.

Penn State Secures Win over Illinois 79 to 76

story by: Steven Stremming

photos by: Anthony Harper

Penn State solidifies a victory in the B1G Ten Men’s tournament with a win over Illinois, in front of a massive Illini crowd in Chicago 79 to 76 to move into the quarterfinals against Chris Collins’ Northwestern Wildcats, Friday evening at 6:30 p.m. ET.

Penn State used a fourteen (14) to three coring run after the twelve-minute mark in the second half, to open a cushion that the Nittany Lions that they never relinquished.

Leading the way for the Lions was B1G Ten 1st team Jalen Pickett, who averages 18 points a game, and seven assists and rebounds per game, a feat that hasn’t been seen since Drew Valentine. Pickett would score 12 points on a four of ten night from the floor and eight rebounds and eight assists and would constantly pushing the ball into the paint and distributing to open teammates like Bucknell transfer Andrew Funk, who scored 20 points on six of nine behind the arc and Seth Lundy, who totaled 17 points on eight of sixteen field goals with a team leading ten rebounds. Not to be outshone was Camren Wynter who scored 18 points with seven of nine field goals for the evening and five rebounds.

Penn State would shoot 51.8% percent from the floor on 29 of 56 shots, total 34 rebounds and have a team total of 13 assists.

Illinois, headed to the NCAA tournament, regardless of the loss was led by Chicago, Illinois’ own Terrence Shannon 19 points on seven of fourteen shots with five rebounds and four assists. Assisting Shannon was Coleman Hawkins’ 17 points, five rebounds and four assists along with Dain Dainja’s 13 points and seven boards.

Homestead High School (Indiana)’s Luke Goode would score eight points while Matt Mayer was held to just seven points but pulled down a team leading eight rebounds.

For the game, the Illini hit 45.3% percent from the floor on 29 of 64 attempts, tallied 32 rebounds and a team 15 assists.

Maryland 70   Minnesota 54

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