FINDLAY, Ohio – In a surprising turn of events, No. 8 seed Cedarville pulled off a stunning upset against No. 1 Findlay, winning 67-65 in the opening round of the G-MAC Men’s Basketball Championship. Cedarville never trailed during the game, showcasing a strong performance that has fans buzzing.
The Yellow Jackets, now 13-15, will face No. 4 seed Thomas More in the semifinals this Friday at 5:00 p.m. EST in Hillsdale, Michigan. This is Cedarville’s second victory over Findlay this season, which adds to their remarkable comeback story.
Freshman Sam Johnson was a standout player, scoring 19 points and helping lead the team alongside David Okpara, Anthony Ruffolo, and Ethan Sellars, who each contributed 10 points. Despite a shaky finish, where Cedarville scored just one point in the last 2:42, they managed to hold onto their lead. A key layup from Sellars pushed the score to 66-58, but Findlay made a series of plays that closed the gap.
Ruffolo’s free throw with 8.2 seconds left proved crucial. Findlay had a chance to tie it up but missed a crucial layup and a shot at the buzzer after a last-minute inbounds play.
This year’s tournament has seen its share of surprises, with the No. 8 seed eliminating the No. 1 seed for the second consecutive season. In another upset, No. 7 Malone secured a 72-62 victory against No. 2 Kentucky Wesleyan.
As Cedarville prepares to take on Thomas More, it’s clear the competition is heating up. Thomas More secured their spot by defeating No. 5 Lake Erie, 99-92, while No. 3 Hillsdale took down No. 6 Ashland, 76-59. Hillsdale will face Malone in the other semifinal at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, with the championship on the line for the winners as they aim for a spot in the NCAA Division II Championship.
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