2003 SCAC MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
FINALS

#2 TRINITY UNIVERSITY 58, #4 CENTRE COLLEGE 54
(Game Box)

Trinity sophomore guard Andy Bates hit two free throws with :06 remaining, icing a 58-54 victory over Centre and providing the Tigers the 2003 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Men's Basketball Championship and a berth into the NCAA Tournament.

Trinity improved to 21-7 and will find out its first-round opponent on Sunday night when the brackets are announced.

After the Tigers' Peter Murray nailed a three-pointer to give Trinity a 54-48 lead with 5:17 remaining, Centre cut the lead to 54-52 just over a minute later behind two free throws by Jason Atwell and a two-point jumper from James Booker.

A made shot by Trinity's Sean Devins increased the lead to 56-52 at the 2:25 mark, but a driving, circus layup by the Colonels' Jon Ortega sliced the Tigers' lead to 56-54 with 2:05 remaining.

Both teams missed chances to score down the stretch, and Centre found itself with the ball and a chance to tie or win with :18 remaining. After a timeout to set up a shot, Centre got the inside look they wanted, but Devin Sona was called for traveling before he could get off his shot, and the Colonels were forced to foul Trinity's Bates on the ensuing inbounds pass. And the sophomore proved to be up to the challenge as he calmly sank both free throws.

Tournament MVP Jason Morris had 12 points for Trinity, and Bates finished with a team-high 13. Sean Devins, who was an all-tournament selection, had 10 points and eight rebounds.

Centre, which ended its season at 18-9, was led by Ortega's 18 points and five rebounds. Atwell had 13 points and Rob King and James Booker had eight points each. King also had seven rebounds, as did Sona.

Joining Morris and Devins on the all-tournament team was Ortega and Sona of Centre, and Joe Ringger of DePauw.

2003 SCAC MEN'S BASKETBALL
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Jason Morris, Trinity (MVP)
Sean Devins, Trinity
Jon Ortega, Centre
Devin Sona, Centre
Joe Ringger, DePauw