HUTCHINSON, KS – They’re on to the Elite Eight.
The winning formula for the Angelina College Roadrunners all season long hasn’t been about one or two big-time scorers. It’s been about playing lock-down defense and patient offense while waiting to see which ‘Runner has the hot hand.
In Wednesday’s game against Jones College, there were several Roadrunners helping light up the scoreboard to take a 74-62 win in the NJCAA’s Division I National Championship Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas.
AC’s Christian Jones led the team with 22 points, with 11 of those coming in the first half. Jones went 6-of-8 from three-point range.
And against a Jones team featuring a noticeable size advantage, AC big guys Daemon Ely and Jordan Mathews pounded their way down low to the tune of 20 points for Mathews (who converted all six of his free-throw attempts) and 17 for Ely. Chris Carpenter added 12 points, including a clutch three-pointer to halt a Bobcat charge late in the second half.
Jones College got 17 points from Dimp Pernell and 15 from Avery Thomas III.
The 12th-seeded Roadrunners led by as many as 17 points on their way to downing the No. 5 seed Bobcats, in large part by dominating the defensive boards: Jones College finished with just five second-chance points. AC also forced 17 Bobcat turnovers while holding Jones to 40 percent shooting from the field and 11 percent from three-point range.
Next up for the Roadrunners is No. 4 seed South Plains College, a team AC beat 68-60 back in November.
Game time in Hutchinson for Wednesday’s matchup is 5:30 p.m.
The email address for AC’s Sports Information Director is gstallard@angelina.edu.
