On to Bowling Green; Men’s Basketball to Challenge Thomas More in Quarterfinals
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COLUMBIA, Ky. – The Mid-South Conference men's basketball tournament moves to its final site this weekend in Bowling Green. Eight teams remain in the quest for a championship, including the Lindsey Wilson men's basketball team.
The Blue Raiders are riding high off their first postseason victory in five years and are next set to challenge the defending conference tournament runner-up, Thomas More University in the quarterfinals.
The 24th-ranked Saints (21-7) closed their regular season on February 18 with an overtime loss at the University of Pikeville. The negative decision was the team's second in three games, and third in their last 10.
Conference Player of the Year Reid Jolly leads Thomas More into the playoffs with a mark of 17.4 points per game. He also paces the Saints in total blocks (12) and rebounds (168) and ranks second in assists (52). Jolly is one of six in the Thomas More lineup to boast scoring averages of 10 or more points. Jacob Jones and Casey George contribute 12.5 and 12.0, respectively, while Wyatt Vieth, Noah Pack, and Kyle Ross aid the offense with a combined 0.459 field goal percentage.
Despite the artillery, the Saints – 73.3 points per game – sit just one spot ahead of Lindsey Wilson – 73.2 – in eighth on the conference's scoring leaderboard.
The Blue Raiders have scored at least 80 points in three of their last four outings, including the 84-82 victory over the University of Tennessee Southern on Tuesday evening. Additionally, in those four contests, the locals have shot over 50 percent from the floor three times, over 35 percent from three-point territory four times, and have dished out 13 or more assists four times.
Senior Payton Cundiff is posting 15.2 points a night over his last five games, complete with a 0.535 field goal percentage and 16-for-33 showing on three-pointers. He is also 14-for-16 on free throws during that span.
Meanwhile, fellow senior and All-Mid-South selection Elijah Jordan needs 19 points to reach 1,000 for his Lindsey Wilson career. In two games against Thomas More this season, Jordan leads the Blue Raiders with 15 points per game.
The Saints defeated Lindsey Wilson in both meetings during the regular season by an average of just seven points. The Blue Raiders did outshoot Thomas More on three-point field goals, making 3.5 more on average. They also came up with five more total steals.
The winner of Saturday evening's game will advance to the semifinals and play the winner of Freed-Hardeman University and Campbellsville University on Sunday night.
For fans making the trip to Bowling Green Arena, please be aware that tickets must be purchased in advance through the Mid-South Conference website.
Live stats and a video stream will be available for those unable to attend the game.