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(NewsDakota.com)- For the second time in as many years both Jamestown College basketball teams are headed to the NAIA National Tournament. The women secured their spot with a 83-68 victory over a Ashford, but the it was the men’s upset of No. 9 Rochester that will be talked about for a long time. The Jimmies dominated the second-half en route to a 78-62 victory.

Jamestown outscored the Warriors 50-28 in the second half after entering halftime down six. Rochester jumped out of the gates on a 9-2 run with DI transfer Drew Maynard scoring seven of those points. But Davon Thomas stuffed home the next basket with authority as if to show the Jimmies would not be intimidated.

He followed it up with a three and one of the most entertaining games played was just getting started. Rochester was able to keep the Jimmies at arms length through the first couple minutes of the second half.

With 8:08 to go Mark Hoge’s three pointer gave the Jimmies the lead for good and from that point it was a complete domination as they rolled on a 22-5 run. Jared Sutherland joined Hoge and Thomas in the 20-point club when he slammed home a pass from Breshion Tucker to put the Jimmies up 14 with just under a minute to go.

Unfortunately Sutherland was hurt on the play and did not return. Hoge had 28 for the Jimmies while Thomas added 23. Jamestown goes to 15-17 on the season and will make their second straight trip to nationals. 

In the women’s game Ashford trailed for the first 25 minutes but used a 15-1 run to take their first lead. But soon after that Hannah Steele jump started a run that quickly buried the Saints. After hitting back-to-back threes to regain the lead, the rest of her team began to feed off her. Carly Jensen, Morgan Mathison, and Amber Ramlo combined to finish off an incredible 6-of-7 stretch from beyond the arc.

The Jimmies never trailed again and when Jordan Bridges hit a three later in the half to put JC up 23 with 5:00 minutes to go it was over.

Jamestown picked up their 25th win and will play in NAIA Tournament for the second straight year.

Now that the National tournament bids have been secured the Jimmies will try to win the A.I.I. championships. The women begin at 2pm against Valley City St. and the men will have their fourth contest against Dakota St. at 4:30pm.

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