IRSC Men’s Basketball Make It To The Elite Eight At The NJCAA National Tournament

Hutchinson, Kansas – In the first-round match-up at the Men's National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Basketball Tournament the 14^th seeded Indian River State College (IRSC) Men's Basketball Team took on the #19^th seeded Dawson College.  It didn't take Region VIII Player of the Year, Linton Brown, long to get things started as he nailed a deep three-pointer for the first score of the game.  IRSC never trailed in the contest and took an early 22-16 advantage when Antrell Charlton caught a nice pass from Tanahj Pettway and slammed home the alley-opp.  The Pioneers kept up the pace and led 40-35 at halftime. 

A.J. Cajuste drove to the basket and scored on a lay-up increasing the lead to 12, 59-47.  IRSC was able to keep the lead to double digits and went on to win 85-75.  Brown tossed in a game high 28 points, followed by freshmen sensation, Abdoulaye Thiam with 20, and A.J. Cajuste added 10 points.  Jacob Jackson did a great job rebounding pulling in a game high 13 rebounds.  Charlton filled the stat book, with six points, eight rebounds, seven steals, and nine assists.  

In the second-round match-up, the 14^th seeded IRSC took on the #3 seeded College of Southern Idaho.  The Pioneers found themselves down 5-0 early in the contest, but quickly battled back and led 14-13 when Brown drilled a three-point shot from the left wing.  With both big men in foul trouble Nate Montaque came off the bench and gave the Pioneers a quick six points as IRSC led at the half, 53-40. 

IRSC continued to find the basket in the second half, shooting 56% from the field and 40% from behind the three-point arc and went on to a 94-82 win.  Leading scorers were Thiam 23, Brown 22, Charlton 19 and Cajuste added 12 points.  The win advanced the Pioneers into the Elite 8 and increased their record to 20-3, their fourth 20-win season in a row. 

 The next round set up a rematch of the Region VIII Championship game as IRSC took on Chipola College.  In the first meeting between the two teams, Chipola controlled the game from the tip and won 88-75.  This time, the Pioneers came out ready to play and led by as many as 13 and closed out the half with a 41-37 lead. 

IRSC kept the lead through the second half, but were never able to pull away.  Chipola took a 72-70 advantage with 2:17 remaining and increased the margin to four with a couple of free-throws, 74-70.  Charlton hit a baseline three-pointer pulling the Pioneers to within one, 74-73.  Cajuste was fouled and hit both free-throws giving IRSC a one-point lead, 75-74 with just over a minute remaining.  The Pioneers had a couple of chances to score, but were unable to convert and had to foul as Chipola went on to win 78-75.  Cajuste led IRSC with 19 points, followed by Charlton 16, and Thiam added 11 points. 

It was the end of a historic season for IRSC as they made their first appearance at the NJCAA Tournament and advanced to the Elite Eight.  "I couldn't have imagined this at the beginning of the year, what this team has accomplished will not be forgotten", stated IRSC Head Coach Charlie Wilson.