I correctly predicted one close game and one no so close game. We’re going to ignore that I got which game would be close and which would be a blow out wrong.
We saw an overtime thriller in game one and a near triple-double and a 28-2 run in game two.
Game One: Stetson vs. Coastal Carolina
If you remember game one, you’ll know that Stetson couldn’t throw the ball into the ocean while standing on the beach and yet, they somehow one. They shot 2-19 from three and managed to pull it out.
Game two was a different story though, in the first half, the Hatters shot 6-11 from three. Only three Stetson players scored, but that’s all they needed as they would take a 33-31 lead into the locker room.
Behind a big second half from Essam Mostafa, Coastal Carolina jumped out to a six-point lead. Sun Belt Player of the Year DeVante’ Jones was never able to get in a rhythm due to foul trouble. He fouled out with 1:02 left in regulation.
Down by four with 2:00 to go, the Hatters hit a mid-range jumper to cut the deficit to only two. 40 seconds later, they’d tie the game.
That score would hold for the remaining 1:20 and it would go to overtime.
In OT, Mostafa was on fire. He scored the first six points of the period and eight of Coastal’s first ten points.
He built enough of a lead up by himself that when he fouled out with 46 seconds left, it didn’t change the outcome of the game. Coastal would go on to win 77-72 to move on to the CBI Championship Game.
Game 2: Bellarmine vs. Pepperdine
Much like Bellarmine’s first round matchup; this was a tale of two halves.
The Knights jumped out to an early lead and wouldn’t let up. Pedro Bradshaw led the way with nine points, and going into the locker room at halftime, they would lead 50-41.
Whatever Waves head coach Lorenzo Romar said in the locker room worked because they came out on absolute fire.
Bellarmine pushed their lead to 11, and then Pepperdine decided they’d go on a 28-2 run to take a 75-60 lead over the Knights. I’ve never seen anything like that before in person. Not only was the Waves offense rolling, but they were also playing lockdown defense. Bellarmine went 8:34 without making a field goal.
Pepperdine did what Bellarmine did to Army to Bellarmine and it was absolutely insane to watch.
Led by Kessler Edwards’ 28 points, the Waves would clinch a berth to the CBI Championship game to play Coastal Carolina on Wednesday night at 8 pm est.
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