Dribblings 2/6/2005 (Really, Really Exciting Edition)

Western Athletic: Nevada 76, Louisiana Tech 58 (story) - In the most decisive result of Really, Really Exciting Saturday, Nick Fazekas scored 27 points and Nevada (15-5, 9-2 WAC) dominated the previously surging LTU Bulldogs, who were led by former MMBOW Paul Millsap with his 20 and 8. Insodoing, they served notice to the rest of the WAC that the Wolves are top dogs. Did we mention they get to host the conference tournament, too? Yep, it all adds up to big trouble for everyone else.

Colonial: Old Dominion 74, North Carolina-Wilmington 63 (story) - Homecoming is always a special time of year, and if you're not a football school it comes in February. UMCW had all the banners up in Trask Coliseum, but the Monarchs (21-3, 11-1 CAA) came in and spoiled the party in a big way. Old Dominion clicked on all three of its major cylinders (6'9" Alex Loughton, combo guard Kiah Thomas, waterbug Isaiah Hunter), and used an early second-half run to bring tears to the eyes of the king, queen, and all their subjects. ODU's final test of the regular season will be next Saturday at home against Virginia Commonwealth - they're the "1" on the right side of their league record.

Southern: Davidson 78, North Carolina-Greensboro 69 (story) - The Wildcats can beat you outside or inside - this time they took the former route, burying Greensboro under a blizzard of perimeter shots. UNCG's 11-game home win streak is history, and Davidson (13-7, 11-0 SoCon) has passed all its tests - the Wildcats head into the stretch as the clear team-to-beat in this league. The six-and-four Spartans stay tied for first, however - East division rival Chattanooga continued its struggles, dropping its third in a row by losing at home to last-place Elon.

Sun Belt: Denver 79, Louisiana-Lafayette 72 (story) - The Ragin' Cajuns are still undefeated in conference - to all teams not named Denver, that is. The Pioneers (13-7, 8-1 SBC) are all alone atop the Sun Belt West (and assume the mantle of league favorites) - they used an inside-outside tandem to complete a season sweep of the consensus preseason league picks. Inside muscleman Yemi Nicholson exploded for 28 points and 11 boards, and point guard Rodney Billups had 15 points and 12 assists. Lafayette, now seven and two, scored just a pair of baskets in the final six minutes of the game. Can't win like that.

Shootaround!

Missouri Valley: You can talk all you want about RPI, but if you want to make it to the Tournament you have to win games. It's been said many times in many ways on this site, but there's no tougher a league to win regular-season contests in than the Valley. Mighty Southern Illinois (15-6, 8-3 MVC) have now lost three of their last five, including a 67-61 jigsaw gut check victory by Northern Iowa yesterday. Game of the week will be 10-2 Wichita State's trip to 8-4 Illinois State on Thursday. A Redbird win would throw the conference into a tizzy that would surely delight impartial fans with Arch Madness tickets (me!), and further frustrate those who would desire three MoVal Tournament bids.

West Coast: Speaking of parity, most of the WCC's clubs are in jostle mode around the .500 region after nine conference games. Despite getting approximately one-eighth of the national respect, St. Mary's (20-6, 7-2 WCC) shares first place with the Unnamed Major Program From the Northwest and won 73-72 at Portland yesterday. UMPFN is also 7-2 and have won four straight.

America East: Vermont (17-3, 12-0 AE) beat Northeastern at Patrick Gym 72-64 to drop the Huskies three games back, and tallied their school-record 14th straight win. With a 65-46 decision, second-place Boston University (16-5, 10-2 AE) allowed Hartford to more than double their score from their previous meeting. The Terriers and Catamounts meet next Saturday in UVM's final table-running barrier.

Atlantic Sun: In a fierce battle for first place, Gardner-Webb beat Mercer 81-72 in a T-plagued game that almost devolved into an on-court riot in the post-game handshake line. The Runnin' Bullldogs From Boiling Springs (12-9, 9-5 A-Sun) squeak back into first by a game, and the Bears sink back into the large melted mass of A-Sun middle.

Atlantic 10: When you see a first-place team with nearly as many league wins as overall wins, you know the conference is down... or "wide open," as the A-10's ads for their Cincinnati tourney like to say. This is the case with St. Joseph's (11-8, 8-1 A-10), who sports a MEAC-like standings profile at the expense of teams like Duquesne, who they whomped solidly yesterday by a 83-60 margin. Needless to say, Hawk Hysteria is a bit more muted than it was last season about this time.

Big Sky: Portland State (16-6, 8-2 BSky) won at Sacramento State 71-66, and they're in the drivers' seat. Montana State is a half-game back at 7-2, but PSU has already offered compelling who's-yer-daddy evidence (January 29, 68-51). Despite only leading conference in one meaningful offensive category (assists), the Vikings are no one-man show. You'll meet that particular guy tomorrow at MMBOW time, but his forecourt-mate Blake Walker led Portland State with 26 and 10 yesterday.

Big West: Utah State (17-5, 8-3 BWC) will be the focus of attention this week. The Aggies have won six straight, and will play host to current second-place Cal State Northridge on Thursday. A win there would set up a final Big West showdown against soon-to-be-former rivals Pacific next Saturday. Oh yeah, and those Tigers (18-2, 12-0 BWC) won their 14th straight against league-winless Long Beach State. Big clutch specialist Guillaume Yango shot 7-of-8 and finished with 20 points.

Horizon: The two UW satellites, Wisconsin-Milwaukee (17-5, 10-2 HL) and Wisconsin-Green Bay (16-6, 9-3 HL) are way out ahead of the thickly settled midsection; both won handily yesterday over second-division clubs. They've split the season series, but Milwaukee has the edge down the stretch because Green Bay plays three of its last four remaining games on the road. Come March, there might be all sorts of tiebreakers going on.

Metro Atlantic: Rider is hanging tough at the top with a 9-2 record, but Niagara (14-6, 9-3 MAAC) has run off a five-game win streak and are now only a half-game out of one-seed position. The Purple Eagles' fifth victims were the fading Marist Red Foxes - they avenged a one-point loss three weeks ago with a 79-68 win that featured 23 straight made NU free throws to close the game. Marist, with a lineup ravaged by injuries and suspensions, has lost three straight after a 7-1 start.

Mid-American: Streaky Ball State (12-6, 7-3 MAC) takes over first place in the West, thanks to Ohio's 89-85 late comeback over Western Michigan - junior forward Mychal Green hit a three with 25 seconds left to ice the win. The Broncos have lost four of six, and the Bobcats (12-6, 7-4 MAC) have snuck into the East picture with a four-game win streak. But the East is still under the watchful eye of the RedHawk - Miami (Oh.) (14-5, 9-2 MAC) won its sixth in a row by bopping Buffalo and their backdoor 77-74 in overtime at Millett Hall. Defending MMBOW Danny Horace led the house with 25 points, and drained four key free throws in the final minute.

Mid-Continent: The long and unexpected 11-game win streak of the Missouri-Kansas City Kangaroos (11-8, 9-1 Mid-Con) ended in a very unexpected way; their first 2005 defeat came at home at the hands of Chicago State, 72-69. The score was 69-66 UMKC with two seconds to go, when a little-used Chi-State guard named David Inabnit hit a three. The game seemed headed to overtime until the Cougar head coach's son, Kevin Jones Jr., stole the Kangaroo inbound and heaved a 55-foot Hail Mary as time expired. Idle Oral Roberts (16-5, 8-2 Mid-Con) is now a single step back, their rematch will occur two weeks from now while everyone else is Bracket Bustin'.

Ohio Valley: Samford is 8-2 and in sole possession of first place. The Bulldogs came back from six down with two minutes to go to defeat Austin Peay in overtime, 73-71. The Governors had a chance to win it in the final seconds of OT, but had serious miscommunication problems. Samford was able to escape the losing bug that hit the top of the OVC yesterday: Tennessee Tech was nipped 88-87 by last-place Jacksonville State in double OT, and Murray State lost to Southeast Missouri 61-58. SEMO, by the way, is the hottest team in the Other Valley - they've won five straight.

Southland: The prowling Lions of Southeastern Louisiana (16-6, 8-1 SLC) continue to amaze with their defensive prowess: they allowed Stephen F. Austin half of their season scoring average in a 54-33 beatdown. They've won five in a row, and my only suggestion to folks searching for a feel-good team to root for next month is to order your merchandise now for March delivery.

Sun Belt: Wave that towel, Mr. Banana! Western Kentucky (15-5, 5-3 SBC), left for dead after a tough start to their conference season, has vaulted into first place in the East with a thrilling 76-72 home win over longtime division leader Arkansas State. Benchwarming Philly-boy guard Danny Rumph hit enough free throws down the stretch for the win, and they avenge an earlier loss. The Hilltoppers get the aforementioned Denver Pioneers at home on Thursday, and that result will go far towards determining whether or not WKU will be enjoying "peanut butter jelly time" in March.

Western Athletic: In addition to Nevada's big win, forward Omar Thomas (7-for-11, 28 pts) and Texas-El Paso solidified their hold on two-seed position by holding off a Rice rally at Rice, 73-71. Next Saturday, UTEP and Nevada will meet in the back end of a home-and-home in El Paso. The first game was at the Pack's house, a nationally-televised 83-80 Miner win in overtime which still stands as the best and most intensely satisfying mid-major game of the season. I wanted a cigarette afterwards, and I don't even smoke.

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