Post men ousted in in NCAA 2nd round

Source: Republican American
Author: Mike Barger

COLCHESTER, Vt. - The Post University men's basketball team's first appearance in the NCAA Division II tournament came to a close Sunday when a furious second-half rally came up short in a 69-64 second-round loss to Southern New Hampshire University at the Ross Sports Center.

After trailing by as many as 13 points in the first half to the second-seeded Penmen, the seventh-seeded Eagles scored the first eight points of the second half to pull within a basket, 39-37.

SNHU rebuilt its lead, but Post rallied again. A layup by Naugatuck's Robert Saunders with 8:19 to play had the Eagles back within a basket, 51-49.

Post got as close as 53-52 on a 3-pointer by Naugatuck's Robert Sanders with 7:45 to play.

The Eagles only trailed by three points, 67-64, with 26 seconds to go. Deng Deang had two 3-point attempts to tie, but they both missed. SNHU clinched the win with a pair of free throws.

Sanders finished with 18 points to lead Post (21-10), while Bol Akot scored 16. Deang added nine points, and Harrison Warnock grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Matt Becht led SNHU (23-10) with 17.

The Eagles, who set a school record for wins in a season since joining Division II, struggled with their shooting, going 23-of-67 from the floor and 8-of-27 from 3-point range.