| Dave Niland, pictured here with son Andy, has the second highest winning percentage (.713) among active Division III men's basketball coaches with at least 500 wins, behind only Steve Moore of Wooster. Penn State-Behrend athletics file photo |
Dave Niland became the second Division III coach in five days to win his 500th game as Penn State-Behrend defeated Fredonia. Elsewhere Bethel shut down No. 18 UW-Stevens Point and No. 21 Augsburg sent the St. Thomas women to another defeat.
- Wednesday women's scoreboard
- Wednesday men's scoreboard
- More women's headlines
- More men's headlines
- Conference shuffle: CAC loses another team
Penn State-Behrend outscored Fredonia 18-6 over the final eight minutes of its game, giving the Nittany Lions a 76-60 victory and Niland a milestone win. Kenny Fukon scored a career-best 20 points for the Nittany Lions (5-3) who shot 60 percent from the field. Niland has 500 wins against 201 losses in 26 seasons at the Erie, Pa. school. His milestone victory follows a few days behind Augustana head coach Grey Giovanine winning his 500th game on Saturday night. Dick Meader of Maine-Farmington and Pat Cunningham of Trinity (Texas) are four and five wins away from the same milestone respectively.
In a quiet night for the Top 25, No. 15 UW-La Crosse edged Ripon 53-52 on Zac Haese's layup with three seconds left. The Eagles (7-0) only shot 33 percent but were careful with the ball, tallying 14 assists against six turnovers.
No. 5 St. Thomas defeated Augsburg 89-81 in a meeting of MIAC title contenders. Elijah Hannah and Riley Miller combined to score 35 points off the bench for the Tommies (8-1, 4-0 MIAC). Booker Coplin had 24 points and seven rebounds in 40 minutes for the Augies (5-2, 3-1 MIAC). Lucas Walford and Zach Hanson each had double-doubles and No. 13 St. John's took care of Gustavus Adolphus, 66-52.
MIAC member Bethel headed out of state and out of conference to Stevens Point, Wis. where the Royals stymied the Pointers, 64-46. Granger Kingland paced the Royals (6-2) with 14 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. UW-Stevens Point shot 1-for-20 from three and 18-for-58 overall.
One night after Mass-Boston beat Division I Holy Cross in an exhibition, the Beacons were shut down at home in a 71-49 loss to Tufts. Luke Rogers had 18 rebounds for the Jumbos (7-2) who outrebounded Mass-Boston53-35.
In the NJAC Stockton won easily at Rowan 93-72 and upped its record to 6-2, 4-0 in the conference. Kyion Flanders scored 22 points on 9-for-12 shooting for the Ospreys who hit 14 three-pointers and shot 50 percent overall. Stockton remains tied for first with Montclair State after the Red Hawks held off New Jersey City, 85-83. Montclair held an 85-77 lead with 2:25 remaining and hung on for the win despite not scoring again.
Women: Augies deal Tommies second straight loss
No. 9 St. Thomas rallied from a seven-point deficit with less than three minutes to play in regulation, but the Augies used an 8-0 run from Jen Masello and Kaezha Wubben in the extra period to beat the Tommies, 69-65. No. 21 Augsburg held the Tommies (6-2, 3-2 MIAC) to one fourth-period field goal until the final minute of regulation when Shayla Wallin hit a three and a layup on back-to-back possessions for St. Thomas. The Tommies went cold again in overtime, allowing the Augies (9-1, 5-0 MIAC) to pickup the road win.
Jazmyn Solseth had 19 points and nine rebounds for Ausburg before fouling out. After winning 77 straight MIAC games, the Tommies have dropped two straight for the first time since 2013 when they lost back-to-back road games at Concordia-Moorhead and St. Mary's (Minn.).
No. 25 Gustavus Adolphus validated its new Top 25 ranking with a 67-57 win at St. Benedict. Marisa Gustafson led four players in double-figures for the Gusties 7-1, 4-0 MIAC) with 19 points. Bethel stayed perfect in conference and overall with a 69-50 win over St. Catherine.
Outside the MIAC, No. 14 Messiah broke out to a large early lead at Lycoming rolled past the Warriors, 80-50. Leah Springer had her sixth double-double of the season for Falcons (8-1, 2-0 MAC Commonwealth) who led 48-21 at the break.
Rowan remained tied for first in the NJAC as the Profs handled Stockton, 94-65. Eliana Santana scored 28 points for Rowan (7-1, 4-0 NJAC). Kean is also 4-0 in conference after getting 79 points from its starters in an 84-75 home win over Ramapo.