Judson Wins First-Ever CCAC Tournament Championship
History was made at the Lindner Fitness Center on the campus of Judson University as the Eagles celebrated their first-ever CCAC Tournament Championship with a 97-79 win over Cardinal Stritch University. With the win, Judson clinches their first-ever berth into the NAIA National Tournament to be played in Branson, Missouri.
"I am so proud of this team and their accomplishments this season," says head coach Jim Cook. "They truly deserve everything they have worked for. It is a great to see these seniors go out like this on their home floor winning a conference championship."
CCAC Player of the Year Dewayne Robinson led Judson with a 30-point effort and made key baskets all night. Justen Boyd finshed with 22 points and Ilija Bojanic had 21 points. Robinson shot 75% from the floor and went 11-for-11 from the free throw line. Trey Triplett netted 38 points for CSU.
Judson led from start to finish and started the game off on a 10-2 run in the first three and a half minutes. A Williams three-pointer at the 14:45 mark gave JU a nine-point lead, 13-4, but CSU did cut the lead to five, 15-10, by the 13:22 mark.
CSU stayed within single digits of Judson until 9:55 when Robinson hit two free throws. JU took their largest lead of the half at 13 points when Boyd hit a lay up with 7:28 remaining. CSU brought JU's lead down to seven, 31-24, only to see Boyd score the next five points to push the lead back to 12, 36-24.
CSU's Triplett and Brandon D'Amico scored the next four points to make it 39-31 with 2:57 left in the half. That is as close as CSU would get before the half as JU took a 48-39 lead into the half.
Opening the second half on a 10-1 run, CSU had momentum on their side by bringing Judson's lead to one, 50-49, with 18:07 left in the game. JU's Bojanic scored three of the next four points on a layup and a free throwfor a five-point lead, 54-49.
A Triplett shot just 35 seconds later brought the lead back to three but JU put four straight points in the next minute for a seven-point lead, 58-51. CSU's Chad Dekker hit a lay up with 14:28 remaining to make it 60-55 as the Wolves tried for a comeback.
In the next two minutes, Judson put together a 9-0 run for a 14-point lead. Robinson started the run with two straight free throws followed by two straight lay ups by Boyd. Chris Oates finished off the run with a three-pointer to make it, 69-55 (12:11). From that point on, Judson's lead never fell below 10 points.
With 1:33 remaining, Judson took their largest lead of 20, 94-74, on a Gonnam lay up.
Judson's defense was a big factor in the game forcing 18 turnovers with 15 steals and four blocks. JU finished shooting 54% from the floor, 38% from 3-point land, and 70% from the free throw line. CSU shot 50% overall and made 30% from beyond the arc and 81% from the stripe.
Judson will now wait to see where they are seeded for the NAIA Tournament and who they will play. The NAIA Tournament will be held in Branson, Missouri, from March 12-18.