Wildcats Overcome Slow Start to Defeat Avila
The Culver-Stockton College men's basketball team overcame a slow start to defeat upstart Avila University 75-60 in the quarterfinals of the Heart of America Athletic Conference Tournament Thursday night at Charles Field House.
The victory advances the second-seeded Wildcats to the semifinals Saturday night where they will face third-seeded MidAmerica Nazarene University. The Pioneers slipped past Baker University 69-68 Thursday night. Game time is slated for 7 p.m. at Charles Field House.
The 22nd-ranked Wildcats, playing in their first postseason game since 2005, started slowly as an energetic and athletic Avila squad took it to the home team for the first 20 minutes and led 29-23 at halftime.
The Wildcats made just 34.5 percent of their shots in the opening half as the Eagles held C-SC to its second lowest first half total of the season. C-SC was also cold from beyond the 3-point arc in the first half, making just two of 13 from beyond the stripe.
After the Eagles scored on a layup to start the second half and increase their lead to 31-23, the Wildcats went on a 7-0 run to pull within 31-30. Avila came right back with a quick 5-0 run, but C-SC quickly answered and 9-4 run of its own to tie the game at 39 with 14 minutes, 30 seconds remaining in the game.
From that point, the Wildcats outscored the visitors 15-2 to take a 54-41 lead as Avila went nearly five minutes without scoring.
The Wildcats coasted from there, leading by as much as 19 points before settling on the final outcome. The victory is the 24th for the Wildcats (against 7 losses) and sets a new school record for victories, topping the 23 wins by the 1984-85 team.
Marshawn Norris, who earlier in the day was named the HAAC's Player of the Year, netted 20 of his game-high 22 points in the second half to spearhead the Wildcat effort. He also dished out eight assists.
Austin Keaton garnered 15 points and nine rebounds while James Johnson suffered through a poor shooting night but still finished with 11 markers. CJ Adams chipped n with 10 points.