Midcon Men's tournament Day 2

Game 1: IUPUI Jaguars vs. Southern Utah T-Birds

When I walked in it was 29-17 IUPUI. I was told that SUU could not throw the ball in the ocean. Immediately they hit a layup and another basket and it was 29-21. SUU had an opportunity to make it closer but instead IUPUI hit a 3 as time was running out to go into the locker room up 32-21.

The teams traded baskets in the 2nd half and IUPUI managed to extend the lead to 11, 41-30 at the first media timeout.

Then the T-Birds started hitting 3s again and the Jags started getting sloppy and all of a sudden it was 45-41 on a breakaway by Steve Barnes who flew past 2 Jaguars and laid it up and in, converting on the 3pt play with a made FT. His defenders were between him and the basket, but not for long. IUPUI recovered with a 3pt play of their own down low, but failed to convert the FT.

I never noticed before, but IUPUI's rally train includes one flag for each letter in the acronym, and the first two are in IU's red and white while the second two are in Purdue's gold and black.

After cutting it to 55-52 and gaining possession with a chance to tie, Southern Utah's hopes faded. They stopped hitting 3s and IUPUI got too many looks down low. With 1:17 to go, the Jags led 68-57, and won by about that amount.

Game 2: Valpo Crusaders vs. UMKC Kangaroos

Jake Diebler jammed his finger trying to steal the tip which had been won by UMKC. Valpo started a little slowly, but Huff hit a couple of baskets, Igbavboa threw down a monster drive-thru-the-lane dunk, and Samuel Haanpaa hit a couple of 3's. Diebler, with his hurt finger, nevertheless picked Day's pocket and drove for a basket. 10:40 to go, Valpo 19 UMKC 11.

Sam Haanpaa made the most of his first postseason game, driving the lane, hitting 3's, dishing to Urule, you name it. 27-18 at the 3rd media timeout. Quinton Day hasn't been in the lineup for several minutes. But Dane Brumagin was lights out as well, though not as many. 36-25 at final media timeout on yet another Haanpaa 3.

Then Valpo made several bad decisions and Brumagin and Gettinger continued to hit 3s and lo and behold it was tied at 36, but Jarryd Loyd drew a foul and hit both FTs to put Valpo up 38-36 at the half.

Day came out rejuvenated in the 2nd half scoring over and over again, and spearheading a run that put UMKC up by 5. Valpo slowly fought back, cut it to 2, and the Sam Haanpaa launched one from between the circles to put Valpo up again. UMKC kept coming back and tying it, but Valpo stayed on top, for a time.

Then the bad decisions started coming again, and the UMKC sharp-shooters kept hitting. The lead slipped away for Valpo, and although they made a few serious runs to hang close, they couldn't keep it up.

For the seventh straight year, the 3rd seed has been upset by the 6th seed. Plus UMKC finally got a tourney win over Valpo after losing 3 straight times to the Crusaders from 2002-2004.

So, the men's semifinals are set:

Monday, March 5

#4 Jaguars at #1 Golden Eagles, 6:00 pm CST
#6 Roos at #2 Golden Grizzlies, 8:30 PM CST