During the 2023-24 season, St. Mary-of-the-Woods College's men's basketball program ascended to the top of the River States Conference, and accomplished nearly everything they could ask for - namely a division championship and a trip to the NAIA National Tournament for the first time in program history.
However, the RSC's major hardware eluded the Pomeroys in heartbreaking fashion, as SMWC fell in the title game of the conference tournament by a single point.
In the eyes of the Pomeroys, that wrong was righted Tuesday night on their home floor.
St. Mary-of-the-Woods pulled away in the second half, and won their first RSC Men's Basketball Tournament title with a 76-61 victory over the Grenadiers of Indiana University Southeast. SMWC won the RSC title essentially from wire-to-wire, as the defending regular season champs were the preseason pick the win the league, handily won their division, then added three more wins to claim the tournament crown.
However, for the first 20 minutes of Tuesday's contest, the visiting Grenadiers - who already had upset wins over Shawnee State and IU Kokomo - looked to have themselves in position for another stunner. IU Southeast led by as many as five points in the opening 20 minutes, leading 21-16 with 6:48 to play. SMWC did rally to take the lead, but the Pomeroys led just 31-28 at halftime, with SMWC shooting just 36.4 percent from the field.
SMWC then controlled much of the second half, never surrendering their lead. IU Southeast did hang around, though, and trailed by just six points, 50-44, with 11:07 remaining in the contest. Over the next ten minutes, the Pomeroys outscored the Grenadiers by a 25-11 margin, stretching their lead as large as 20 points before settling into the final margin of 15.
First Team All-Conference selection Greg Jenkins (6'2''-G) was sensational in the championship game, making 13 of his 21 shots and finishing with 33 points. The victory had to be especially sweet for Jenkins, who had a layup roll off the rim as the buzzer sounded in last season's championship defeat to Point Park.
Shon Tupuola (6'9''-C) finished with 15 points, while Dameriz Merriweather (6'0''-PG) logged a double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds. IU Southeast was led by Trent Hinkle (5'10''-PG), who scored 18 points and made six of his seven field goal attempts.

RSC Final:
St. Mary-of-the-Woods - IU Southeast 76-61

RSC Semifinals:
St. Mary-of-the-Woods - Brescia 93-57
IU Kokomo - IU Southeast 78-81

RSC Quarterfinals:
St. Mary-of-the-Woods - Alice Lloyd 102-62
Shawnee State - IU Southeast 92-95
IU Kokomo - Rio Grande 66-46
IU East - Brescia 90-99

Courtesy of riverstatesconference.com