By Dave Morrison
Register-Herald Photographer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. —
The day after one of MSU’s most embarrassing losses ever — a 113-89 loss to Life at the Beckley Raleigh County Convention Center — Cougar players had a little meeting.
“We were all embarrassed; it was like they made us quit,” MSU’s Nick Aldridge said. “They got hot, they were hitting everything and it was like we shut it down. It was like we weren’t even there. It wasn’t us.”
There was no swagger, no pride and no No. 1 ranking by the time the debacle was over.
“We just decided that, no matter what, we weren’t going out like that,” Aldridge said. “No matter what, we were going to keep playing, keep fighting and let the chips fall where they may.”
MSU avenged that loss, pounding Life in the NAIA Regional championship 105-84.
And in the three games since, MSU has eclipsed the 100 mark in three straight wins, including a 105-78 win over Bacone Wednesday in the NAIA National Tournament first-round win.
It is the first time a team reached 100 in the national tournament since 2007 and the widest margin of victory since 2007.
MSU will need more of the same to get by Southern Polytechnic State University (27-5) in the Sweet 16 today at 11:45 a.m. EDT.
The Hornets and Cougars have faced three common opponents — Life, Lee and Emmanuel.
SPST is 3-3 against the trio and MSU is 5-2. But Southern Poly is coming off a 69-63 win over Lee in the Southern States Athletic Conference Championship March 6.
Lee defeated Olivet Nazarene 79-58 Thursday morning in its opener.
The Hornets beat No. 16 seed Oklahoma City 78-70 Wednesday in their first-round game.
Southern Poly has won six straight.
The Hornets are led by a trio of top-flight guards.
Jasmine Rogers, a 6-foot-2 senior from Newark, N.J., averages 16.2 points per game; Xavier Dawson, a 5-11 Miami product, averages 15.6 and Darrien Beacham, a 6-4 Orlando native, averages 8.3.
“Their guard tandem is better than any guard tandem we’ve played this year,” MSU coach Bob Bolen said. “They can put four or five guys on the court who can face up and they can drive to the basket. They are quick, they are strong and they are athletic. They’ve played tremendous this year. They can give teams a lot of matchup problems. Our key is to get out and guard them on the perimeter.”
Bolen also noted their six-game win streak, including the big win over Lee.
“A lot of it is matchups and how well you are playing this time of year,” he said. “Right now, I feel like they are playing their best. How well we do on the inside is also a key.”
The Cougars may have to rely on its own guards — Marcus Hunter, Barry Wellington and Winston Robinson — if SPSU decides to collapse to slow down Aldridge.
“I feel like we have guys who can make plays if that’s what they do,” Bolen said. “And Nick is a smart basketball player. If we have to do that, Nick is going to get the ball where it needs to be.”
Robinson (14.0), Hunter (12.9) and Wellington (12.6) have all shown the ability to put the ball in the basket. Brian Ormon (10.7) is the other starter.
“We know that we have a challenge,” Aldridge said. “Every team out here still playing is capable (of winning the title). We have to take care of business.”
