If there was any lack of self-confidence by the KSU Tuscarawas basketball team before Wednesday afternoon, it was surely shipped off to Buffalo with Villa Maria College after the Golden Eagles pounded out a stunning 101-67 win over the Vikings in Founders Hall Gym.
Coming in winners of 11 of their last 14 games, the Eagles were riding high with momentum. This time however, they were entering unchartered waters having beaten the Vikings one time in seven tries over three seasons. The visitors were looking to avenge that one victory that came earlier this season on their home floor in the Queen City of the Lakes and avoid a season series sweep.
The tension in the gym was palpable as the crowd groaned with each empty possession and both teams struggled to score at the outset. With Villa Maria clinging to a 9-8 lead at the 16:27 mark, KSU forced tempo and exploded on a 20-2 run.
Leading the charge was Braden Rostad who converted on three triple tries, one on each end of the run and another at the midpoint. Gunnar Tharp and Andre Leavell also rained in long range bombs, while Leavell also converted a runout layup after a RaShawn Robinson steal and the Eagles were flying high with a 28-11 lead.
They stretched the lead to 20 (35-15) when Leavell scored on a layup after he out-raced three Vikings to a loose ball as they tried to avoid a backcourt violation. The Eagles closed the half with a 12-4 run, as Rostad knocked down two more 3-pointers, and Leavell and Malik Campbell scored at the rim. Leavell was the beneficiary of two laser-like passes from Tharp as he sliced to the basket as the halftime margin increased to 49-28.
The question at the start of the second half, was if the Golden Eagles could sustain the torrid shooting pace they established in a raucous opening stanza where they shot 53% from the field and made 10/19 3-point shots.
That doubt was quickly erased when the Navy and Gold roared to a 76-33 lead, scoring 24 points while limiting the Vikings to five points in the first 7:27. The largest lead of the game reached 48 points when Jamon Thompson got past the Villa Maria center and scored on a nifty show-and-go move in the lane for a 93-45 advantage.
KSU Tuscarawas is now 14-10 on the season, winning for the ninth time in their last 10 games and for the 12th time in their last 15 tries.
For the second straight game, Leavell led the winners with a double-double scoring 19 points and hauling down 19 rebounds. Rostad had 18 points making 6/8 3-point shots and snagging seven rebounds, while Tharp added 17 points converting on 4/9 shots from behind the arc. Eleven Golden Eagles scored as they shot 51% from the floor, were 16/32 from distance, made 11/16 free throws, dished out 23 assists and outrebounded Villa Maria 50-36.
On Friday, the Eagles travel to Southern State for a 7 p.m. start, followed by a 2 p.m. game at Cincinnati Clermont on Saturday.
Andre Leavell leads a fast break down court.
Gunnar Tharp sinks a 3-point shot from the corner. (Photos by Jason Keller)