JAMESTOWN — The No.3-seeded University of Jamestown had a tight lead with just over two and a half minutes to go but then Cole Woodford went into takeover mode hitting a layup and converting the and-one and splashing a three to push the Jimmies lead out to 76-66. That was enough to see the Jimmies get the 81-70 win over No. 14-seeded Bethel College on Tuesday, March 7, at Harold Newman Arena.
The Jimmies had another huge play late as the Threshers (20-11) rolled the ball up the floor, Mason Walters jumped on the ball taking a knee to the head for his troubles with 1:09 to go in the game. But the senior was able to trade a few stitches for an energized Newman Arena and see his team hang on to what was then a 78-68 lead.
“I think it was nice to get that loose ball,” Walters said. “It gave us some energy to finish the game out and like you said seal the win.”
The first half was tight with both teams trading runs as the Jimmies (26-6) took a 26-20 lead before the Threshers fought back to cut the deficit to 35-33 midway through the opening half. The Jimmies responded by pushing the lead back out to go into the half up 38-33.
Early in the second half, the Jimmies were able to push the lead out to 46-33 with an 8-0 run. The Threshers were able to tie the game up at 66 on a Carmelo Yukubu jumper but Walters responded with a personal 4-0 run to take a 70-66 lead. The biggest difference for the Jimmies in the win was their ability to get to the free throw line as both teams shot north of 80% from the stripe, but the Jimmies went 25-for-30 and the Threshers went 12-for-15. In the second half alone, the Jimmies went 18-for-21, hitting 10 of their last 11.
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The Jimmies overcame a poor three-point shooting performance, 27%, by dominating the defensive glass as they outrebounded the Threshers in the area 32-23, but they gave up 15 second-chance points.
The Jimmies return to the court at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 8, when they take on Peru State.
BC 70, UJ 81
BC: 33 37–70
UJ: 38 43–81
Points leaders:
BC: Clifford Byrd III 22, Harper Jonas 13, Carmelo Yakubu 8, Bryant Mocaby 8, Ike Umeh 8, Jalyn Todd 4, Jared Richardson 4, Christion Whittaker 3
UJ: Mason Walters 34, Cole Woodford 19, Reid Gastner 9, Will Cordes 9, Marc Kjos 6
Assists leaders:
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BC: Byrd III 6, Richardson 3, Yakubu 1
UJ: Kjos 4, Walters 4, Cordes 3, Woodford 1
Leading rebounders:
BC: Yakubu 7, Byrd III 5, Mocaby 3, Jonas 3, Richardson 3, Umeh 3, Todd 2, Whitaker 2, Javen Hutton 1
UJ: Reid Gastner 12, Jimmy Llinas 8, Mason Walters 6
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