Tornadoes top Mustangs in USCAA Quarterfinals

UNIONTOWN, PA-A familiar foe at a familiar time awaited the Mustangs in the opening round (Quarterfinals) of the 2010 Men’s Division I USCAA National Championship Tournament.

Unfortunately, a familiar outcome was in order as the Tornadoes topped the Mustangs for the second straight year at the USCAA National Championships, 88-53. The game nearly matched a 70-47 loss in the quarterfinals of the 2009 USCAA National Tournament. The Tornadoes eventually went on to win the 2009 National Championship.

Junior forward/center Eric Johnson (Southfield, Mich./Lathrup) led all scorers with 19 points.

Key stats: Mustangs shot 22-of-72 (30.6%) from the field. Tornadoes shot 34-of-70 (48.6%). Tornadoes shot 9-of-22 (41%) from behind the arc. Mustangs countered with a difficult 2-of-16 (12.5%).

The loss sends the Mustangs to the consolation bracket against Robert Morris-Springfield (IL). The Eagles (#5) dropped their first round game against #4 Oakwood University, 66-41.

A win tomorrow would keep the Mustangs in play for a potential fifth place finish. Last season, the Mustangs responded after an opening round defeat to top the #5 seeded Florida College Falcons. The win placed them into the fifth place game where they fell to IU-Northwest.

The Mustangs control their own destiny and still have an opportunity to top last season’s sixth place finish by winning their next two contests.

Follow the Mustangs tomorrow (Friday) at 2pm with LIVE STATS from Penn State-Fayette in Uniontown, PA.