HUTCHINSON, Kan. —After trailing for almost the entire game, Trinity Valley rallied for a 78-70 win over Monroe College of New York in a first-round game of the NJCAA Men’s National Basketball Tournament on Tuesday at Hutchinson Sports Arena.

Next up for No. 11 Trinity Valley (28-4) is hometown favorite and No. 6 seed Hutchinson. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. Wednesday.

Shelton Hagigal led the Cardinals with 26 points while Dedrick Basile added 20.

TVCC trailed 1-0 after receiving a technical during warmups for dunking. The No. 22 Mustangs (24-9) then came out on fire, building as much as a 17-point lead, 31-14, in the first half before settling for a 45-31 halftime advantage.

The Cardinals gradually fought back and took the lead on deadly shooting by Basile and inside dunks from Melvin Swift.

With a 67-60 advantage the Cards had all the momentum but Swift was called for a slashing sign after running up court. The Mustangs made one of the shots, but never could get closer.

Joel Angus III led Monroe with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Will Tavares added 13 points and Thomas Rivera added 11 points and seven assists.

Swift had 11 points. Basile also had six assists.

 

WOMEN

In Salina, the Trinity Valley Lady Cardinals begin play in the women’s national tournament Wednesday.

TVCC (29-3) is the No. 3 seed and received a first-round bye. The Lady Cardinals will play Wallace State (Alabama) (28-5) at 5 p.m. Wednesday in a second-round game at the Bicentennial Center.

The winner of the contest advances to the quarterfinals at 7 p.m. Thursday.

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NJCAA Men’s National Tournament

Hutchinson Sports Arena, Hutchinson

No. 11 Trinity Valley 78, No. 22 Monroe (New York) 70

MONROE — Will Tavares, 13; Thomas Rivera, 11; Jaylen Benton, 3; Shackquiel Scott 4; Joel Angus III, 15; Lawahn Lewis, 0; Skakeem Wilson, 6; Edgar Garcia, 0; Ran Tut, 5; Lukas Landgren, 5; Keith Harris, 8.

TRINITY VALLEY —Nicholai Brown, 3; Melvin Swift, 11; Dilepso Blanco, 0; Jhaustin Thomas, 5; Dedrick Basile, 20; Clarence Williams, 5; Shelton Hagigal, 26; Jerry Luckett Jr., 0; Preston Anderson, 2; Aldonis Foote, 3; Devante Jackson, 3.

HALFTIME SCORE — Monroe 45-31.

THREE-POINT GOALS — MC (7 of 17): Tavares (2), Rivera, Benton, Tut, Harris (2). TVCC (11-30): Swift, Basile (5), Hagigal (5).

RECORDS — Monroe 24-9, Trinity Valley 28-4.