A field of four teams from Maine made the trek South this week to Richmond, Virginia for the USCAA Division II men’s and women’s basketball national tournament. The Southern Community College men’s and women’s teams, along with women’s teams from Central Maine Community College and UMaine-Augusta competed for a chance at a national title.
Both SMCC and UMA women’s teams played in national quarterfinal games. The Moose, who were competing in their first national tournament since the 2016-17 season, won their first ever game at nationals when they knocked off Penn State Fayette 54-48 in a play-in game on Monday night in overtime. They would fall 45-39 to CMCC in the quarterfinals on Tuesday, but followed that with another overtime win in a consolation game on Wednesday 62-59 over Penn State Beaver to finish the week 2-1. UMA finished a historic season at 19-9. The Seawolves women lost to Cincinnati-Clermont 63-51 in the quarters on Tuesday, but ended their season on a high note with a 68-65 victory over Villa Maria in a consolation match on Wednesday. SMCC finished up at 21-5.
The Central Maine Community College Mustangs won their third national title in five years, in their fifth straight appearance in the tournament, by ousting Penn State Schuylkill 63-35 in the title game Thursday night. CMCC got there with their quarterfinal comeback win over UMaine-Augusta and a 70-56 win over Cincinnati-Clermont on Wednesday in the semifinals. The Mustangs, who finish 28-3, now have a new championship banner to add to their two previous titles in the 2016-17 and 2018-19 seasons. Myah Nicolas had 13 points and Kali Thompson added 10 points and nine rebounds in the title game victory.
The Southern Maine Community College Seawolves men made history by taking home their first ever national title when they defeated Johnson & Wales (North Carolina) 79-75 Thursday night. The #5 seed SMCC got to the title game by upsetting both Miami-Hamilton 71-57 and top seed Penn State Mont Alto 61-44 in the quarters and semis respectively. Zachary Mickle had 20 points and Ian Regan added 15 in the championship game. The Seawolves men also end their season at 21-5.
