Chanz Aldridge
It took 30 seasons but after winning the first two men's basketball tournaments in St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference history, Blackburn College has won back-to-back titles once again, becoming the first program in conference history to achieve that feat multiple times. On Saturday the Beavers defeated Webster University 76-56 in the 2022 SLIAC Men's Basketball Championship game, tying for the conference lead with 5 titles in program history.
After a quick three by Wynne Brown (5'7''-PG) Jr to open the game looked like the Gorloks may have kept its momentum going from last night's last-second overtime win in the semifinals. However the Gorloks missed their next five shots while Blackburn's offense heated up with Chanz Aldridge (6'1''-G), Javon Stovall (6'3''-G), and Izayah Talmadge (6'3''-F) trading off scoring, each scoring four points to put their team up 12-8 five minutes into the game. Another quick spurt by the Beavers, highlighted by a dunk from Eliot Harrison (6'8''-C) and three by Aldridge, put the Beavers up 19-9. Aldridge added another triple just seconds later and Kirby followed suit with back-to-back threes, opening up a 28-10 Beaver lead. Locke Hord (6'3''-G) capped off the 11-0 Beaver run with a layup at the 8-minute mark.
With Blackburn's full-court press and trapping defense slowing the Gorloks offense down, the Beavers were able to pull away, taking a 44-24 lead into halftime. Blackburn shot a blistering 53-percent in the first half including going 6-of-11 from three-point range. Despite playing even with Blackburn in the second-half, the closest the Gorloks were able to cut the deficit to was 15 points.
Chanz Aldridge put up 26 points in the game, earning Tournament MVP honors for a second straight season and becoming the first player in conference history to earn multiple tournament MVP honors. Talmadge was also named to the All-Tournament team for Blackburn after finishing with 15 points and 15 rebounds on Saturday. Blackburn improves to 11-17 overall this season and will receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III National Tournament.
Wynne Brown Jr. led Webster with 13 points and 4 steals while Karl Moore (6'4''-F/C) Jr. finished with 4 points and 9 rebounds with both players being named to the All-Tournament team. Also joining the All-Tournament team were Caden Clark (6'0''-PG), from Fontbonne University, and Jalen Hosea (5'9''-PG), from Eureka College.
SLIAC Tournament Final: Blackburn - Webster 76-56
SLIAC Tournament Semifinals:
Fontbonne - Webster 80-81, OT
Eureka - Blackburn 77-89
Courtesy of sliac.org
Tags : CHANZ ALDRIDGE, BLACKBURN COLLEGE, NCAA3 BASKETBALL
