GSU, USF To Meet Again For Men's Basketball Tournament Title

CHICAGO --- The semifinal-round matchups of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament could not have been any better with both games going to overtime before top-seeded Governors State University and No. 2 University of St. Francis prevailed.

GSU earned a 73-69 win over No. 4 Trinity Christian College, while No. 2 St. Francis outlasted No. 6 St. Ambrose University 95-90.  That sets up a rematch of last year's championship game, which was won by St. Francis 73-63 in Joliet.

This year's battle will also be the rubber game of the series after both teams claimed victory at home during the regular season.  Governors State (22-8) won 83-71 on Jan. 3, while St. Francis returned the favor 86-70 on Feb. 7.

The title game will take place at GSU's Athletics & Recreation Center on Monday at 7 pm.

Recapping Friday:

Governors State 73, Trinity Christian 69 --- OT
Trinity Christian trailed by as many as ten points in the second half only to go back and forth with Governors State late in the game.  TCC's Garrett Greene forced overtime with his late three-pointer as part of a 23-point night for him.  Vincent Mayes put up 17 points, five rebounds and five blocks for the Jaguars, who also received 15 points from Trae Warren off the bench.

St. Francis 95, St. Ambrose 90 --- OT
St. Ambrose also rallied from a ten-point, second-half deficit and had the lead in the closing seconds of regulation before Merrick Small's layup with seven seconds remaining for St. Francis forced the extra period.  USF took the lead early in overtime and never gave it back thanks in large part to Damarcies Moore, who had a career-high 34 points and ten rebounds on the night.  He was perfect at the line (12-of-12) and 9-of-14 from the field with four three-pointers.  Joffrey Nunnally (16 points) was another of four Saint starters to score in double figures.  Guillermo Narbona's 35 points for SAU on 15-of-20 shooting from the field – 4-of-5 from three-point range – led all scorers.  Ignacio Dacunda also had a big performance with his 22 points, 15 boards and five assists.     

The results and remaining schedule follow:

Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Game #1: No. 1 seed Governors State 76, Indiana Northwest 67
Game #2: No. 4 seed Trinity Christian 84, No. 5 seed Indiana South Bend 68
Game #3: No. 2 seed St. Francis 99, No. 7 seed Saint Xavier 78
Game #4: No. 6 seed St. Ambrose 78, No. 3 seed Olivet Nazarene 75 

Friday, February 27, 2026 (at site of highest remaining seed)
Game #5: No. 1 seed Governors State 73, No. 4 seed Trinity Christian 69 --- OT
Game #6: No. 2 seed St. Francis 95, No. 6 seed St. Ambrose 90 --- OT 

Monday, March 2, 2026 (at site of highest remaining seed)
Game #7: No. 2 seed St. Francis (22-7) at No. 1 seed Governors State (22-8) --- 7 pm