Jordan's 34 Not Enough As Falcons Fall In Regional Semifinals

Jordan's 34 Not Enough As Falcons Fall In Regional Semifinals

March 14, 2010

WEST LIBERTY, WVa. – Chris Jordan (Sr./Houston, Texas) scored a season-high 34 points but third seed Saint Augustine's College lost to second seed West Liberty University 90-83 Sunday in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional semifinals.

The loss ended a tremendous season for the Falcons (27-5), who won the CIAA championship and set a modern school record for victories.

"I am really proud of the guys," Falcon head coach Lonnie Blow, Jr. said. "We accomplished a lot during the season. They set a record that will not be easy to break."

The Falcons were hoping to achieve even more but ran into a West Liberty team that scores better than any team in Division II. The Hilltoppers averages 102.3 points a game.

The Hilltoppers had the Falcons on their heels from the outset, but two free throws by Hayward Fain (Jr./Akron, Ohio) put the Falcons ahead 48-47 with 15 minutes left. But the Falcons never lead again.

The Hilltopper went on a 25-10 run for a 14-point lead with under seven minutes remaining. The Falcons made a late run, but the Hilltoppers countered with a big three-pointer or free throws.

Barry Shetzer scored 27 points and John Wolosinczuk had 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Hilltoppers, who shot 51 percent against the Falcons, the national leaders in field goal percentage defense (35.4 percent). The Hilltoppers' constant movement on offense and full-court press were key in their victory.

"They are a difficult team to play," Blow said. "You really got to be on your game to beat them."

Jordan, who was one-point of his career high, did his best to keep the Falcons in the game. He scored 24 second-points mainly on three-pointers. He was 6 of 13 from the three-point arc for the game.

Fain added 17 points and 16 rebounds for the Falcons, who will lose six seniors. Fain, a two-time All-CIAA player, says this season was fun on and off the court.

"It was really a family," Fain said. "There was a sense of unity and that is a credit to Coach Blow and his staff."