Any conference semifinal is going to be intense.
But according to Cougars forward Bryant Chambly, Thursday’s game between Columbia College (24-7) and McKendree (18-13) could include a little extra spice.
“It’s probably going to get ugly,” Chambly said of Columbia College’s semifinal matchup in Columbia. “We’re going to lay a 50-piece on them. We’re going to try to beat them by 50.”
The Cougars will get a chance to try thanks to their 90-46 victory over Williams Baptist on Tuesday and McKendree’s 58-43 win over Harris-Stowe in Lebanon, Ill. Columbia College booked its passage to the American Midwest Conference semifinals in the first six minutes of the game, jumping out to a 22-2 lead and making its first seven shots.
Terrance Smith led the Cougars with 16 points, including four three pointers. Chance Smith, Williams Baptist’s leading scorer, was held to 11 points and did not score his first field goal until the second half.
Despite the Cougars’ high hopes, Williams Baptist will likely be Columbia College’s last lopsided win in this tournament.
The last time the Cougars played McKendree they were defeated 81-77 in overtime at Lebanon. That evening, the Cougars shot 13 free throws to McKendree’s 39, with guard Bryant Lyles shooting 14 of his own. On Tuesday, Chambly remembered the discrepancy.
“They stole one at their crib. It’s hard to play 5-on-8 but we did,” Chambly said. “But I don’t want to take anything away from them. They played well when they beat us.”
Cougars coach Bob Burchard went one step further.
“I think they’re great. They’ve had a real solid conference season,” Burchard said. “They’ve got an inside player, (Mike) Strobbe that could really hurt us.”
If Strobbe does hurt the Cougars on Thursday, the voters in the NAIA national poll could help heal the wound. The next poll, which will be revealed today, could have a large role in determining the future of the Cougars.
A jump into the Top 25 for the unranked Cougars, Burchard believes, could seal Columbia College’s eighth-straight trip to the NAIA National Tournament.
In the NAIA, only 15 teams are granted at-large berths to the 32-team tournament.