The Hoops National: February 9, 2010

February 9, 2010 7:23 am ET by The Robot

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Big Games

Western Athletic: at New Mexico State 70, Louisiana Tech 68
NMSU - 15-8 (8-2) [RPI: 78, State: 94] LTU - 19-5 (7-3) [RPI: 71, State: 67]
Star of the Game: Troy Gillenwater 19 Pts (7-12 FG, 4-4 FT), 8 Reb, 2 Stl

Laroche Hits Game Winner over LA Tech, 70-68 - New Mexico State sophomore guard Hernst Laroche hit a jumper from the free throw line with 1.1 seconds left to lift NMSU to a 70-68 victory over Louisiana Tech on Monday at the Pan American Center in Las Cruces, N.M. With the game tied at 68-68, Aggies guard Jahmar Young missed a jumper from the top of the key, but the rebound found its way to Laroche, who hit a 15-footer from straight away. (via New Mexico State)

Metro Atlantic: at Siena 69, Fairfield 67
SIE - 21-4 (14-0) [RPI: 34, State: 40] FAIR - 16-8 (9-5) [RPI: 115, State: 146]
Star of the Game: Ryan Rossiter 17 Pts (5-12 FG, 6-9 FT), 10 Reb, 3 Stl

Postseason Bound - Siena clinched at least a share of the MAAC regular-season title, the #1 seed in the conference Tournament and an automatic bid to the NIT with a 69-67 win over Fairfield Monday night at Times Union Center. Four Saints scored in double figures as the nation's longest win streak improved to a program-record 15 games and the second longest homecourt win streak moved to 34. (via Siena)

Horizon League: at Butler 62, Loyola (Ill.) 47
BUTL - 21-4 (14-0) [RPI: 15, State: 14] LOYO - 13-11 (4-10) [RPI: 187, State: 192]
Star of the Game: Matt Howard 20 Pts (4-8 FG, 12-14 FT)

Butler Clinches a Share of Fourth Consecutive League Title - Matt Howard scored a game-high 20 points and Butler won its third game in five days to clinch at least a share of its fourth consecutive Horizon League regular season title. The Bulldogs came back in the second half to beat Loyola 62-47 at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Monday to improve to 14-0 in Horizon League play. (via Butler)
Other Games of Note

Southern: The Citadel 72, at College of Charleston 65
CITA - 14-12 (7-6) [RPI: 218, State: 213] COFC - 16-9 (11-3) [RPI: 88, State: 126]
Star of the Game: Zach Urbanus 17 Pts (6-10 FG), 2 Stl

Urbanus' Second Half 17 Leads The Citadel Over Cougars, 72-65 - Zach Urbanus scored 17 points, all in the second half, to keep The Citadel undefeated all-time at Carolina First Arena with a 72-65 toppling of intercity rival College of Charleston. Urbanus, who finished 5-of-8 from beyond the arc, was joined on the offensive end by Cameron Wells and Harrison DuPont who added 15 points apiece. DuPont added six rebounds to lead the way for the 'Dogs, who have now won three straight games in Southern Conference action. The Citadel improves to 13-12 overall and 7-6 in league play. (via The Citadel)

MEAC: at Morgan State 48, Bethune-Cookman 47
MORG - 18-7 (11-0) [RPI: 130, State: 119] BETH - 14-10 (7-4) [RPI: 243, State: 243]
Star of the Game: Kevin Thompson 12 Pts (3-6 FG, 6-10 FT), 9 Reb

Morgan State defeats Bethune-Cookman 48-47 - Troy Smith made two free throws with 37 seconds left and Morgan State overcame Bethune-Cookman 48-47 on Monday night. The Bears trailed 42-38 with 4:34 left, before scoring five straight. Smith's three-point play put Morgan State up 43-42 with 2:56 remaining. (via Washington Post/AP)

Southern: at Elon 81, Western Carolina 76
ELON - 6-17 (4-8) [RPI: 273, State: 279] WCU - 18-7 (8-5) [RPI: 93, State: 121]
Star of the Game: Chris Long 13 Pts (2-7 FG, 8-8 FT), 8 Ast, 3 Stl

Elon Knocks Off North Division Leader Western Carolina 81-76 - The Elon men's basketball team staved off a furious Western Carolina comeback to knock off the Southern Conference North Division leader, 81-76, on Monday night at Alumni Gym. The Phoenix (6-17, 4-8) has won its last two contests and six straight home games against the Catamounts. Western Carolina (18-7, 8-5) dropped back-to-back contests for the first time this season. (via Elon)

Top Performances

Gold: Tyren Johnson, Louisiana-Lafayette - 30 Pts (11-18 FG, 6-6 FT), 11 Reb in 77-51 win vs. Arkansas-Little Rock
Silver: Ryan Thompson, Rider - 31 Pts (9-17 FG, 9-11 FT), 7 Reb in 70-62 win vs. Niagara
Bronze: Jonathan Inman, Alabama A&M - 20 Pts (8-10 FG, 4-4 FT), 7 Reb in 77-69 win vs. Mississippi Valley State

Honorable mentions:
Donald Qualls, Grambling State - 21 Pts (7-14 FG, 2-2 FT) in 73-58 win vs. Alcorn State
Jarrel Smith, Towson - 21 Pts (7-10 FG, 6-8 FT) in 81-78 win vs. James Madison
Gerald McLemore, Maine - 25 Pts (8-12 FG, 2-2 FT) in 84-63 win at Maryland-Baltimore County

Full Scoreboard

America East: UME 84 @ UMBC 63
Atlantic Sun: SCU 69 @ MERC 83
Colonial: UNCW 62 @ DEL 69 ... JMU 78 @ TOWS 81
Horizon League: LOYO 47 @ BUTL 62 ... UIC 82 @ VALP 83
MEAC: UMES 62 @ NCAT 52 ... BETH 47 @ MORG 48 ... FAMU 44 @ COPP 70 ... HAMP 55 @ WSSU 53 ... HOW 64 @ SCST 77 ... DEST 54 @ NORF 52
Metro Atlantic: FAIR 67 @ SIE 69 ... NIAG 62 @ RID 70
Southern: APST 75 @ UNCG 69 ... CITA 72 @ COFC 65 ... WCU 76 @ ELON 81
SWAC: ALAM 77 @ MVSU 69 ... SOU 53 @ JSU 63 ... ALST 42 @ UAPB 47 ... ALC 58 @ GRAM 73
Western Athletic: LTU 68 @ NMSU 70
Other: LONG 83 @ FDU 81 ... CST 72 @ UDM 92 ... RMU 53 @ PITT 77

Today's State of the Other 24 (full list)

1. Northern Iowa 103.800 ... 2. Butler 102.079 ... 3. Rhode Island 100.238 ... 4. Virginia Commonwealth 94.747 ... 5. Xavier 94.672 ... 6. Temple 93.995 ... 7. Saint Mary's 93.422 ... 8. Utah State 92.091 ... 9. Siena 92.049 ... 10. Richmond 91.873

Game! Of! The! Night!

Virginia Commonwealth at George Mason (Colonial)
Patriot Center - Fairfax, VA
7:00 EST

VCU - 17-5 (9-4) [RPI: 50 State: 33] SOS: 120 Last 10: 8-2 Form: L W W W W PF/PA: 76.9/66.1
GMU - 15-9 (10-3) [RPI: 132 State: 114] SOS: 196 Last 10: 7-3 Form: W W W L L PF/PA: 66.5/65.6

Men's Basketball Hosts VCU on ESPNU on Tuesday Night - Mason has won 17-straight home games against Colonial Athletic Association competition, tied for the longest such streak in school history. It's also the longest active streak of its nature in the CAA. Mason (15-9, 10-3) is tied for second in the CAA with Old Dominion, one game behind first place Northeastern. It's the first time all year Mason has not been in first place in the CAA. VCU is tied for fourth (17-5, 9-4) with Drexel, which beat Mason on Saturday, 73-60. The Rams currently have a four-game winning streak and have won eight of nine. Mason had gone 9-1 in January but the Patriots are winless in February. (via George Mason)

Players to watch:
Virginia Commonwealth - #1 Larry Sanders Jr. C (15.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 1.1 apg)
George Mason - #24 Ryan Pearson So. F (12.2 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.5 apg)

Basketball State Preview/Box

#Pixelvision Picks (all times Eastern)

Colonial: Virginia Commonwealth at George Mason - 7:00 pm
Mid-American: Western Michigan at Ohio - 7:00 pm
Atlantic 14: Saint Louis at Saint Joseph's - 7:00 pm

Today's Full Schedule (all times Eastern)

America East
Vermont 17-8 (8-3) at Boston University 13-11 (8-4) - 7:00 pm
New Hampshire 8-13 (3-7) at Albany 6-20 (1-10) - 7:00 pm

Atlantic 14
Saint Louis 14-8 (5-3) at Saint Joseph's 9-14 (3-6) - 7:00 pm

Colonial
Virginia Commonwealth 17-5 (9-4) at George Mason 15-9 (10-3) - 7:00 pm

Mid-American
Akron 17-7 (7-3) at Central Michigan 11-10 (6-3) - 7:00 pm
Western Michigan 13-10 (5-5) at Ohio 12-11 (3-6) - 7:00 pm

Missouri Valley
Illinois State 16-8 (7-6) at Bradley 12-11 (7-6) - 8:05 pm
Indiana State 14-10 (6-7) at Creighton 12-12 (7-6) - 8:05 pm
Wichita State 20-5 (9-4) at Evansville 6-17 (0-13) - 8:05 pm

Ohio Valley
Tennessee Tech 12-12 (6-7) at Austin Peay 14-11 (8-5) - 8:00 pm
Southeast Missouri 7-16 (3-9) at Tennessee-Martin 3-19 (0-12) - 8:00 pm

Other
Houston 11-11 (4-5) at Western Kentucky 13-11 (6-6) - 8:00 pm
Lyon at Lamar 13-11 (5-4) - 8:05 pm