Wednesday men: Putting it all together

More news about: Montclair State | Mount Union | Rose-Hulman | Wooster
Feb 19, 2014
TJ Gillespie led Mount Union with 16 points as the Purple Raiders reached the 20-win mark for the second time ever.
Mount Union athletics file photo 

Mount Union, Wooster and Rose-Hulman ensured that they will have hosting rights throughout their conference tournaments, while Montclair State ensured itself at least one more game.

After Mount Union built a 10-point lead at Marietta, the Purple Raiders held off the Pioneers 81-77 to grab their first regular season title in 17 years and hosting rights in the OAC playoffs.

Mount Union earned a bye through the first two rounds of the OAC tournament, which has an unusual format. Eight teams make the tournament with two teams receiving byes into the second round and two more receiving byes into the semifinals.

No. 8 Wooster ended some of the intrigue in the NCAC race. The Fighting Scots pounded Allegheny 89-57 to secure the top seed in the conference tournament. No. 18 Ohio Wesleyan handled Oberlin 93-60 to stay in second place, one game in front of No. 22 Wittenberg and DePauw, which both won. Tommy Fernitz's steal sealed DePauw's one-point win over rival Wabash, 75-74.

No. 24 Rose-Hulman rallied past Franklin 71-69 to grab the top spot in the HCAC playoffs. The Engineers outscored the Grizzlies 14-5 in the final three minutes.

No. 20 Randolph-Macon had a great day, first by retaining the top spot in the NCAA's second regional rankings and then by demolishing archrival Hampden-Sydney in front of a sell-out crowd, 90-67. Chris Hamilton scored 27 points for the Yellow Jackets and shot 8-for-8 on his three-pointers.

Montclair State won at TCNJ 68-58 to secure the last spot in the NJAC playoffs and extend its season by at least one more game. The Red Hawks travel to Rutgers-Newark on Saturday night for a first round matchup.

Dickinson defeated Muhlenberg 92-86, but the Mules clinched a spot in the Centennial Conference playoffs anyway. Franklin and Marshall downed Gettysburg 63-51 to set the five teams in the tournament, though the seeding could still change.

Bethany seized control of the PAC race by edging Thomas More, 80-77. St. Vincent dropped one game behind the Bison when they lost at Waynesburg, 68-62.

Senior Brett Rubin-Goldstein hit a halfcourt buzzer beater to lift Washington and Jefferson over Geneva 62-61 on Senior Night. Brandon Hedley hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to lift Susquehanna over Juniata, 59-58. Hedley's shot also guarantees the Crusaders a spot in the Landmark Conference playoffs.

It was a relatively uneventual night for the Top 25 teams, all of whom won. No. 25 Scranton fought off Moravian 67-61 for its 11th consecutive win. The Royals moved in front of No. 6 Cabrini in this week's regional rankings. The Cavaliers downed Keystone 86-73 behind strong performances from two seniors on Senior Night. Aaron Walton-Moss rested his foot for Cabrini, which is playing four games in six days.

Buena Vista edged Dubuque 77-75, sending the Spartans to their third straight defeat and 20-4 overall.