COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL: Rochester College falls in NAIA debut
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BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. — In its first year of eligibility in the NAIA, Rochester College found itself a qualifier for the 22nd annual NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball National Tournament.
The Warriors, who recently won the United State Collegiate Athletic Association national title, its fifth in 24 seasons dating back to 1989, drew the 15th seed.
Rochester College also drew a first-round exit in the NAIA.
Bellevue College (Neb.), unseeded for the tournament, rallied for a 64-50 victory over Rochester College at the College of the Ozarks’ Keeter Gymnasium Thursday night. The setback was the Warriors’ first loss since early December.
The loss also marked the first time the Warriors had lost to a non-NCAA Division I school all season. Rochester College was 1-4 against NCAA-I schools this season and was undefeated against USCAA, NAIA and NCAA-II programs throughout the course of the season — until Thursday.
The Bruins started slow but rallied back from a 13-point first-half deficit to prevail and advance to Saturday’s second round against Cardinal Stritch (Wis.). This is the seventh straight season that Bellevue has reached the second round of the 32-school tournament.
DENIED: Dramell Hogan and Rochester College were denied access into the second round of the NAIA Division II National tournament, falling to the Bruins, 64-50. Courtesy Photo | Rochester College
Rochester College raced out to a 16-3 in the first 10 minutes, only to go ice cold for long stretches during the rest of the game. The Warriors (29-4), who set a school record for wins, led 31-28 at the half.
Bellevue (24-10) bounced back after making only one of its first 13 shots from the floor, outscoring Rochester 36-19 over the final 20 minutes of play.
Domonique Grant had a game high 18 points to go along with 10 rebounds for Bellevue. Blake Zamudio added 17 points and Jamil Goodwin scored 11 with eight rebounds for Bellevue College.
Stavros Schizas scored 16 points, while Drew Maynard had 12 points and 11 rebounds in his final college game for Rochester College. Dramal Hogan, the USCAA Tournament MVP the previous weekend, was held in check with eight points and six rebounds for the Warriors.
Bellevue, which out-rebounded Rochester College 35-26, gained its first lead at 40-38 on a three-point shot by Everett Robinson with 12:09 remaining in the game and the Bruins never trailed again.
Bellevue College, which is participating in its 11th straight NAIA Division II National Tournament, finished 19-for-50 from the floor (38 percent).
Rochester College finished a season-low 33-percent from the floor (16-for-48) and hit only 5-of-24 three-point attempts (20.8 percent), another season low.
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