Posting Up - Scoreboard - Top 25 - Features - Notables - Team of the Week - Live Audio

Press Release

This is a press release submitted by one of the schools playing in this game. It has not been edited or approved by D3hoops.com
Click here to read the other press release

COLLEGEVILLE, Pa - — Senior guard Al Sowers scored nine points in a span of 86 seconds to lead Coast Guard to a 57-48 victory over the University of Rochester in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Division III playoffs at Ursinus College.

Coast Guard has won three straight in the tournament – all on the road. The Bears (24-6) defeated Trinity (CT) College, 70-65, in round one in Hartford, then defeated Massachusetts-Dartmouth, 50-47, in round two in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts last Saturday.

Rochester finishes its season at 22-6. Jon Onyiriuka scored 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Yellowjackets. Rob Dominiak scored 15 points as well. Rochester struggled with its outside game, hitting 4 of 23 (17.4%). In the second half, the Yellowjackets made 2 of 13 (15.4%).

Sowers scored 15 points for the Bears. Craig Johnson scored 12 and pulled down eight rebounds. Grant Johnson scored 11 points.

“Al Sowers wasn’t going to let us lose,” said Coast Guard coach Pete Barry.

Those nine Sowers points came in a game-turning 17-1 run over nine minutes in the second half. Rochester edged ahead, 39-34, on an Onyiriuka layup with 13:15 left. Stefan Lewis hit a three-pointer and Eric Hudson followed with a jumper to tie it at 39 with 11:13 to go.

Sowers made a traditional three-point play, sank a three-point field goal, and made another traditional three-point play to push Coast Guard in front, 48-39.

“They got into the lane and made some ‘and one’ shots,” said Rochester coach Mike Neer. “They made more big plays in the second half than we did.”

Coast Guard hit the glass hard in the second half, outrebounding Rochester, 24-14. The Bears grabbed nine offensive rebounds in the last 20 minutes and held Rochester to two offensive rebounds.

“We saw them win the Mass-Dartmouth game with offensive rebounds,” said Neer. “We’re a good offensive rebounding team. They completely reversed the rebound fortunes in the second half and that determined the outcome of the game.”

Rochester managed to rally in the second half. Mike Chmielowiec hit a three-pointer from the left of the key with 2:01 left. Craig Johnson turned over the inbounds pass and Dominiak canned a three from the right corner, bringing the Yellowjackets within 53-48 with 1:53 left.

Neer switched to a zone and when Lewis missed, Jeff Juron grabbed the rebound. He rushed downcourt and fed Onyiriuka who was called for a walk as CGA defenders converged. At Coast Guard’s end, Grant Johnson missed a jumper and Craig Johnson tipped the rebound out to a teammate to retain possession. Rochester had to foul. Grant Johnson and Sowers both made two free throws in the last 42 seconds.

“Never once did we give up on defense,” Barry said.

The Bears are through to the Elite 8 and one win away from the Final Four. “It’s believeable,” Barry said. “More than that, they (his players) are starting to believe in it.”

Press release submitted by Rochester on Mar 14 2008 at 11:55 PM

Teams By Region
Schedules and results

Northeast	M	W
East	M	W
Atlantic	M	W
Middle Atlantic	M	W
South	M	W
Great Lakes	M	W
Midwest	M
Central		W
West	M	W

Contact Us
About D3hoops.com
Feedback
Privacy Policy
Team of Week Nominations
User Survey