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Cougars Advance to Regional Finals

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Johnson
Ty Johnson


 March 12, 2006


         RENSSELAER, Ind. - Check that. The fourth time is the charm.
         Southern Illinois University Edwardsville men's basketball defeated Quincy University on its fourth try this season, picking up an 80-69 victory to sweep into the Great Lakes Regional Finals.
         Quincy swept the regular season series and knocked the Cougars out of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament semifinals. SIUE won arguably the most crucial of the series behind some outstanding outside shooting and by knocking down 30 of 38 free throws.
         SIUE will play the Southern Indiana, which defeated top-seeded Saint Joseph's 81-78, at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The winner advances to the Elite Eight in Springfield, Mass., on March 22.
         Ty Johnson scored a season-high 28 points, including an impressive 19 of 22 from the free throw line. Johnson's free throws broke the long-time record first set by Gary Collins in the 1968-69 season and tied three more times at 15.
         "Ty wanted the basketball," said SIUE Coach Marty Simmons. "He's a great free throw shooter."
         SIUE improved to 24-7, breaking another long-standing record of wins in a season first set in the 1985-86 season and matched three more times, including last season's NCAA run.
         The Cougars reversed the season-long trend against Quincy by shooting 53.7 percent from the field and 60 percent (6 of 10) from three-point range. SIUE also won the battle of rebounds, edging the Hawks 30-28.
         Simmons said his two biggest concerns coming into the game was keeping Quincy off the boards and his players avoiding turnovers.
         "The boards was a big key. That and our ball-handling was key," said Simmons.
         SIUE came out on fire in the first four minutes of the game, collecting a 16-2 lead behind three-pointers from Mike Hardiek and Ryan Belcher.
         "I think we were able to get out in transition early and get some buckets," said Simmons.
         Quincy cooled off the Cougars and pulled to within three at 19-16 on a three-point play by Sam Sutera.
         Quincy wasn't able to make that extra leap into the plus column as the Cougars led at halftime 33-25.
         SIUE is now 21-1 when it leads at halftime.
         SIUE maintained its strong tempo early in the second half. SIUE's lead briefly grew to 20 points when Johnson hit two free throws with 12:28 to play off a technical foul by Quincy's Ryan Walker.
         Quincy was down by double digits for most of the second half but certainly did not give up. The Hawks chipped away at SIUE's lead late in the game with a six unanswered points with 1:27 to play. SIUE led 66-61 after Quincy's Jordan Roth hit a jumper.
         In the final 90 seconds of the game, SIUE made 14 of 16 free throws to seal the victory.
         Three other Cougars joined Johnson in double figures Sunday. Hardiek scored 16 points. Belcher added 12 points and a game-high nine rebounds. Justin Ward came off the bench for 12 points.
         Andre Muse powered the offense for Quincy with 20 points. Cameron Murkey scored 18 and Jordan Roth added 15. As a team, Quincy shot 43 percent from the field (26-60) and 18.8 percent (3-16) from three-point range.
         SIUE advances to the Sweet Sixteen for only the third time in school history. SIUE previously played in the regional semifinals on March 8, 1986, and March 8, 1987. In both of the those seasons, the national bracket was 32 teams instead of today's 64 teams.
                  -siue cougars-
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Players Mentioned

Ryan Belcher

#10 Ryan Belcher

G
6' 3"
Senior
Mike Hardiek

#34 Mike Hardiek

F
6' 7"
Junior
Ty Johnson

#3 Ty Johnson

G
5' 11"
Junior
Justin Ward

#50 Justin Ward

F
6' 6"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Ryan Belcher

#10 Ryan Belcher

6' 3"
Senior
G
Mike Hardiek

#34 Mike Hardiek

6' 7"
Junior
F
Ty Johnson

#3 Ty Johnson

5' 11"
Junior
G
Justin Ward

#50 Justin Ward

6' 6"
Senior
F