UAH Defends NCAA Men's Basketball Regional Title
Huntsville, AL—The Gulf South Conference officially advanced a team to the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Elite Eight for the eighth year in a row.
GSC rivals, No. 1 seed Alabama-Huntsville and No. 2 seed Christian Brothers, matched up for the fourth time this season and UAH made it 4-0 over the Bucs behind a 68-59 triumph. The victory gave the Chargers their second consecutive NCAA South Regional Title and also marked the fourth time that a GSC team defended the crown (first since Montevallo in 2006-07). UAH also extended its winning streak to 20 games.
The game was headlined by eight lead changes and five ties. Alabama-Huntsville opened a six-point lead at 7:47 in the first half, but Christian Brothers closed with a 5-0 run and knotting the score at intermission, 29-29. CBU notched its largest lead of the game at 15:33 in the second half, but UAH fought back tie the score at 44-44 with 10:18 remaining. The Chargers grabbed the reigns the rest of the way, opening an eight-point lead at 4:29. The Buccaneers went cold from three-point range down the stretch, allowing UAH to take the Title. Chargers’ guard Xavier Baldwin came off the bench to net a team-high 13 points, while forward Srdjan Boskovic added a double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds).
UAH guard Josh Magette was named the Most Outstanding Player of the regional, while teammate guard Jaime Smith joined him. Christian Brothers completed the five-member All-Tournament Team placing, guards Harry Green and Scott Dennis and forward Zack Warner.
Next up for Alabama-Huntsville is a repeat trip to next week’s Division II Elite Eight which will be held on the campus of Northern Kentucky in Highland Heights, KY. UAH faces defending NCAA Champion and Midwest Regional winner Bellarmine on Wednesday, March 21 at a time to be announced.
Back-to-Back GSC Division II Elite Eights
1979 North Alabama
1980 North Alabama
1981 North Alabama
1989 Jacksonville State
1990 Jacksonville State
2006 Montevallo
2007 Montevallo
2011 Alabama-Huntsville
2012 Alabama-Huntsville