2012 ACAA Basketball Championships: Tommies clutch in defeating Kings to advance to Championship Game

Saturday, March 3, 2012


Charlottetown - In the second men's semifinal game it was the STU Tommies coming from behind to defeat the King's College Blue Devils by a score of 64-59. The Tommies win sets up an all ACAA STU and MSVU final as the two schools will battle in both the men's and women's final tomorrow afternoon at Holland College.

The game was a terrific battle with several heated moments between the two schools. With NSAC hosting the CCAA Men's Basketball Championships and choosing not to take their host spot, the two ACAA finalists receive a spot in the national event. Both teams knew a spot in the ACAA final and CCAA Championships was on the line and the battle was a great sign of putting it all on the line.

The first half was extremely tight as the two teams traded buckets and defensive stops continuously. The score was 29-28 King's at half-time.

King's started to take control in the third quarter, winning the period 24-17. STU bounced back early in the fourth evening eliminating their deficit with five minutes to go. From there was anyone's game. Will Kowalsky came off the bench and was clutch for the Tommies scoring several huge buckets and scoring 11 points in total.

King's Eamon Morrisey had a chance to give King's the lead late, but his drive to the basket just rolled off the rim. The Blue Devils were then forced to foul. Nathan Mazurkiewicz and MacKenzie Washburn both went 2-2 from the line sealing the win for the Tommies.

Mazurkiewicz led the Tommies with 23 points and took the player of the game award. Kowalsky and Richie Wilkins both scored 11 and Washburn added nine.

J.D. Howlett had another big game for King's scoring 26 points and grabbing 10 boards. Player of the game Eamon Morrisey added 14 and Alex MacKillop had eight.

STU out-rebounded UKC 42-35.

The Tommies will battle the Mystics Sunday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. with the 2011-12 ACAA Men's Basketball title on the line.

You can watch the game live online and get the latest results at: http://hollandcollege.com/acaa_2012/.