Judson's upset nets league title, national tourney berth

The Judson University men's basketball team is headed to the NAIA Division II National Tournament in Point Lookout, Mo., for the second time in three seasons.

The surging Eagles gained a national tournament berth on Saturday when they upset No. 9 Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee 70-65 to win the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament title.

The win capped a monumental turnaround season for Judson (17-12), which won its 16th game in 18 outings after a 1-10 start.

"We told the guys all year it's not how you start, it's how you finish," elated Judson coach Tony Tompkins said via telephone. "I am on cloud nine and very exhausted. It's crazy. Give God all the glory."

Judson's victory snapped the Wolves' nation-best 19-game winning streak. The Eagles lost twice to Cardinal Stritch (27-5) during the regular season.

Judson trailed 63-59 late in the second half until senior Ben Rayhorn erupted. The 6-foot-6 forward scored 8 of his game-high 27 points during an 11-2 run over the game's final 4:06.

"The guy does not want to lose anymore," Tompkins said of Rayhorn. "He didn't want our season to be over so he got after it."

The Eagles held Cardinal Stritch All-American Trey Triplett to 1 point in 22 minutes by employing a newly installed defense.

"We just put in a brand new defense and we hid it until today," Tompkins said. "The guys executed it to perfection. It's basically a total front with our shot blockers in the middle, then just being solid and talking and helping each other out on the wings."

Judson junior guard Jim Kuban finished with 13 points. Sophomore guards Landon Skinner and Josh Edwards had 10 and 9 points, respectively.