Trailblazers In Full Control Of CSI, Move To Quarterfinals
March 21, 2023 (Hutchinson, KS) – The Blue Bloods were out in this second round game, as the #15 Vincennes Trailblazers took on #2 College of Southern Idaho, the winner advancing to the elite eight.
Vincennes, one of two teams in the tournament with four National Championships, and Southern Idaho, among the four teams in the tourney with three titles were poised for an epic battle.
CSI got a slow break from the gate, shooting a mere 18.5% (5-27) from the floor in route to a 33-19 halftime deficit. On the other bench, the Blazers were not setting the world on fire, but 12-26 (46%) was enough to keep the pressure on the Eagles.
Southern Idaho, the #1 ranked team the last six weeks of the regular season (finishing with a 29-0 record), improved to 60% in the final 20:00. They were able to cut the margin to three in the final minute 71-68, but couldn’t flip the score.
Vincennes led all but :35 seconds of the game. Their largest lead was 15 early in he 2nd half, on their way to a 75-70 victory.
The win puts VU at 30-5 and into a quarterfinal game on Thursday at 2:00 vs. the winner of 7th seed Northwest Florida State and 10 seed Butler CC.
After 29 straight wins in the regular season, the Eagles lost back to back in the postseason to fall to 29-2.
VU goes to 30-5. CSI outpointed the Trailblazers 51-42 with some clutch threes down the stretch 10-14 for 71%, but it was too little too late to save their season.
Isaiah Moses drained a game high 24 points thru the cords with 6 boards for CSI. Nate Meithof finished with 22, Rob Whaley ended with 10 points and 7 rebounds.
Vincennes ended up with four in double figures as Caleb Johnson went for 17, Ryan Oliver did 14, Tasos Cook had 13 with 4 assists, and Kris King added 12 points and 8 boards off the bench.
