With conference playoff action a couple days away, two familiar names clinched the regular season crowns and hosting privileges for the playoffs.
Calvin dropped off the national radar when it lost four straight before the holiday break. But the Knights have won 14 of 15 since then and claimed the regular season MIAA title outright by beating Albion 67-62 on Wednesday night. Matt Veltema had 16 points and eight rebounds as Calvin outrebounded the Britons 48-32.
No. 5 UW-Stevens Point clinched its 25th WIAC title with a win and a little help from its rivals. The Pointers built a 15-point lead and held UW-La Crosse at arm's length the rest of the way in a 78-62 victory. UW-Eau Claire got 46 points combined from Ryan Shea and Dan Beyer (23 each) to dump No. 4 UW-Platteville 65-60. UW-Oshkosh nipped No. 3 UW-Whitewater 65-64 when DJ Marsh hit a layup with eight seconds left. Wednesday's men�s scores. Scroll down for women's coverage.
&&g-boxl&&No. 7 Wheaton (Ill.) could not clinch the CCIW title outright but the Thunder secured a share of it by winning at Carthage, 73-69. Wheaton's Ben Panner set a school and conference record with 10 three pointers. No. 21 Elmhurst remains a game behind the Thunder after Ryan Burks scored 28 points in the Bluejays' 74-63 victory over North Central (Ill.).
No. 1 St. Thomas won the MIAC regular season title a while ago, but is now just one win away from a perfect regular season. The Tommies broke open a close game with a 16-0 run and rolled over rival St. John's, 82-47.
Justin Short erupted for 18 of his 22 points in the last seven minutes of the second half, pushing No. 24 Randolph-Macon past archrival Hampden-Sydney 69-67. The Yellow Jackets did not clinch the ODAC regular season title because No. 20 Guilford also won at Emory and Henry, 77-68. Tyler Sanborn had 22 points and 15 rebounds for the Quakers who finish the regular season against Randolph College.
Gettysburg broke out of its deep funk in a big way, beating No. 13 Franklin and Marshall, 72-60. The Bullets had lost five of six before the win over the Diplomats, who need to beat Dickinson on Saturday to secure conference playoff hosting rights.
No. 16 John Carroll stayed hot and took care of Baldwin-Wallace 86-71 for its 15th consecutive victory. The University of New England did not as Gordon ended the Nor'easters' 19 game win streak, 82-75. Farmingdale State won its 18th straight and Damien Santana became the school's all-time scoring leader in the Rams' 87-81 win over Purchase State.
And one program will go into the offseason on a brighter note. Medgar Evers defeated Pratt 72-40 to finish the 2008-09 campaign at 1-24. Macalester, however, could not say the same, losing at home 68-47 to St. Olaf and finishing 0-25, 0-20 in the MIAC.