Dribblings 2/17/2005 (Poetry Edition)

Colonial: George Mason 74, Old Dominion 58 (story) - Shall I compare last night's performance by the Old Dominion Monarchs to a summer day? Hell, no. The CAA leaders shot just 33 percent from the floor, because their hosts did a lot of spear-shaking on the defensive end. By handing ODU their second conference loss of the year, the 'Mason Pats (15-10, 10-6 CAA) made a solid case for an upper tourney seed; they currently sit in fourth position as five teams battle to the wire over final positioning going into Richmond. Oh - and it may not have been a poetic game by any means, but most of the players' feet were Longfellows. Get it? Umm, moving along...

Missouri Valley: Creighton 82, Wichita State 68 (story) - As they have in most of their recent games, the Shockers sped to an early lead. But when your opposition shoots 84% in the second half, you really don't have a chance at winning, whether you're at home or not. Bluejay Nate Funk was the hero, blasting Wichita for 35 points. The Shox (18-5, 11-4 MVC) fall into second place behind Southern Illinois, who will get rising Northern Iowa next week when everyone comes back from Bracket Bustin'.

Shootaround!

America East: It was Vermont (19-4, 14-1 AE) over Albany, beating the feel-good worst-to-fourth Great Danes 71-63. But Albany were in control for most of this game, leading by 13 at halftime while ESPN2's cameras followed the Catamounts for "The Season." But UVM's 23-2 run in the second half will give this episode excellent narrative structure. Last Saturday's Catamount-killers Boston University (19-5, 13-2 AE) kept pace by beating Stony Brook at The Roof, 57-50.

Big South: All hail mighty Winthrop (20-5, 12-1 BSC); they dusted Radford last night 65-55 to run their win streak to 12 and clinch the tourney one-seed. Reigning MMBOW Torrell Martin wasn't a factor, as this one was a bench job - they're resting their starters for the stretch. They want to hear four letters, not three, on Selection Sunday.

Metro Atlantic: Niagara (17-7, 12-4 MAAC) has been a little up and a little down all season, but seem to be getting it together at the right time. They hold the league lead over Rider by a half-game after scorching Canisius for 113 points in a 45-minute game. Big Juan Mendez, the Purple Eagles' Canadian superhero, poured in a career-high 39 points. The Golden Griffins, a team that looks to participate in a Friday afternoon low-seed game once the MAAC convenes in Buffalo, hung 101 points on the board. That's a lot, too.

Mid-American: Look out below: Ball State has dropped four straight including Buzzergate, and are 7-7 after dropping a 70-69 decision at their Western division rivals, second-place Bowling Green. The Cardinals' March success will depend on which of their two extreme personalities show up in Cleveland.

Northeast: Powered by star forward Blake Hamilton's 23 points, Monmouth (13-10, 12-2 NEC) took out lowly Mount St. Mary's 67-62 at lovely Boylan Gym. They head into tomorrow's New Jersey Cage Match with second-place Fairleigh Dickinson (14-10, 10-3 NEC) with a bit of momentum, they'll be the home team there too. Will it be the G!O!T!N!? I hope I didn't just give away the ending! But please stay tuned anyway!

Game! Of! The! Night!

Top spot in the Atlantic Sun up for grabs tonight in Music City USA. Gardner-Webb (14-9, 11-5 ASun) travels to Belmont (11-13, 10-6 ASun). The crew known around the league as the Runnin' Bulldogs From Boiling Springs have held on to the conference's top slot for most of the year now, and come into this roadie with a three-game streak. The Battlin' Bruins O' Belmont (I made that one up) have risen slowly through the ranks and are winners of their last pair. These two have met already, it was a 79-75 'Webb win. You can read more about Bruin freshman phenom Justin Hare in today's Tennesseean, and then you can listen along here at 8:15 PM Eastern. Enjoy.

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