PIONEERS: ¹û¶³´«Ã½ Men’s Basketball Team Returns from Historic National Conference Play
PIONEERS: ¹û¶³´«Ã½ Men’s Basketball Team Returns from Historic National Conference Play
April 26, 2021 Robert Lane
In a season shortened by COVID, the ¹û¶³´«Ã½ River State ¹û¶³´«Ã½ (¹û¶³´«Ã½) Men’s Basketball team established another 20-win season, qualifying for the ELITE 8 with a victory over the #3 seeded ¹û¶³´«Ã½ of Southern Idaho Golden Eagles at the NJCAA National Tournament held April 19-24 in Hutchinson, Kansas.
The team’s landmark performance is the highlight of the season and the ¹û¶³´«Ã½ team’s first-ever appearance at the National Conference. The win also secured a rematch with Chipola ¹û¶³´«Ã½ of Marianna, Florida—the program that ended the Pioneer’s run at the Region VIII FCSAA Championship in Niceville. FL.
The rematch of the FCSAA Championship game came down to the wire with the score tied at 75 with less than a minute to play. Chipola scored late to go up by two. ¹û¶³´«Ã½ had a late turnover and was forced to foul with 3.1 seconds left. The ¹û¶³´«Ã½s missed the first of two free throws but connected on the second to take a three-point advantage. The Pioneers drove the length of the court with a chance to tie but came up short.
While the ¹û¶³´«Ã½ Men’s Basketball team historic run has ended, the outstanding season and incredible play by our student-athletes secures their place in the record-books. Congratulations to the Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year, Charlie Wilson, and the entire Men’s Basketball Team. GO RIVER!