The Triton men's basketball team has found many different ways to win all season long. But the Trojans formula to success in the postseason has been turning defense into offense with their constant pressure. However, Triton showed they had some new tricks up their sleeve in Wednesday's NJCAA Division II National Tournament quarterfinal game against the hosts Danville Area Community College.
The Trojans dared the Jaquars to shoot from long-range by playing a 2-3 zone and despite Danville making their share of the three's early, could not do so late. As the night progressed, the Jaguars attempts from beyond the arc landed short and Triton pulled away to an 87-71 victory in front of a standing room only crowd of 2,000 at the Mary Miller Gymnasium.
The Trojans advance to the Final Four for the third time in six trips to nationals under head coach
Steve Christiansen. Triton will play Southwestern Community College (Creston, IA) Friday in a national semifinal at 6:30 p.m. in Danville. The Spartans 28-7 defeated Erie Community College (Buffalo, NY) 70-66Â Thursday night.
In the quarterfinal win, the game was tied at 10 after five minutes before the Trojans (31-4) went on a 10-0 run to take a lead they would not relinquish.
Alondes Williams was once again the spark, scoring the last six points of the spurt. Williams scored 10 of 18 points during the opening eight minutes. The freshman added seven rebounds and two blocks.
Danville (27-7) would answer with a 10-2 run to close within 22-20 with 8:10 to go in the first half, but that would be as close as the Jaguars would get. Triton scored eight of the next 10 points to get the advantage back up to 30-22 with the help of three-point field goals from
Devin Blake and
Courtese Cooper. The Trojans execution on the offensive end helped keep the sell-out crowd quiet as the lead increased to 52-35 late in the first half and led 52-38 at the break.
After halftime, Triton maintained their poise and stayed with the zone, Danville made 8-of-20 from long range in the first half. But were just 2-of-11 in the second half.
The Trojans had five in double-figures led by Cooper who had 19 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots.
Najee Brown-Henderson and Blake each finished with 14 points. Sophomore
Deonta Terrell had 11 points six rebounds and three steals.
Triton as a team shot 35-of-67 from the field (52 percent) while the Jaguars ended up 27-of-72 from the field (38 percent).
You can listen for FREE to all Triton national tournament games on WRRG 88.9FM Triton College Radio and online at tritonathletics.com! Sports Information Director and Region IV Hall of Famer Tim McKinney returns to Triton Radio to provide "The Home Team Call!"
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