Colts are Dancing in the Field of Eight

 

3/3/07

 

Fort Wingate, NM -- The New Mexico Military Institute Colt basketball team battled a deafening crowd and a scrappy opponent in the first round of the New Mexico Activities Association State Basketball Tournament.  The Colts overcame all adversity and walked away a 49-44 winner and will advance to the second round of the state tournament.

 

The Colts got off to a hot start, Andrew Cowan knocked down a three-point shot to give the Colts the early 3-0 lead.  At the end of the first quarter, the Colts were up 17-7.

 

The Colts were forced to play a majority of the second quarter without their leading scorer, Connor Williamson, who was out with foul trouble.  The Colts held their own going in at the half with a 28-19 lead. 

 

The second half saw a sudden change of momentum.  Wingate knocked down a couple of three point shots to open the second half.  They quickly tied the game at 32-32 and the home crowd began to erupt.  Wingate used that momentum to outscore the Colts 18-6 in the third quarter, erasing an eleven point Colt lead.  At the end of the third quarter, Wingate led NMMI 37-34.

 

Williamson returned to the game in the fourth quarter and sank a three point shot to put the Colts back on top 43-40.  Rodrigo Leon later put the Colts 45-41 with a two-point tip-in basket with two minutes remaining in the game.  Williamson then added two free throws and a break-away lay-up to put the game out of reach.  Wingate drained a three-point attempt at the buzzer but it was too little to late as the Colts won 49-44. 

 

DeMarcus Doucette led the Colts with 15 points.  Williamson added 9.  Andrew Cowan led the Colts with 7 rebounds and 4 assists. 

 

With the win, the Colts improve to 19-10 on the season and move on to the second round of the state tournament.  NMMI will take on St. Michael's High School on Wednesday, March  at 4:45 pm in the Santa Ana Center in Albuquerque.