Beavers Keep Playoff Hopes Alive

There are only nine games remaining.  And the Beavers are very much in the hunt for the postseason.  Tonight Blackburn hosted Spalding University, who currently sit in a four-way tie for third in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference standings.

Entering this evening, Blackburn was hoping to end a three-game skid, which featured a heart breaking one point loss at home against first place Iowa Wesleyan.

The game began as a back and forth affair with both teams going bucket for bucket, until Spalding pulled away 30-18 with 4:43 left in the first half.  But Blackburn bounced back with an 8-0 run to bring the score to 30-26 with 1:06 left.  Spalding returned with a small run of their own to enter the half up ten, 36-28.

The Beavers exploded out of the second half with another 8-0, powered by six straight from Jake Maestranzi.  The game returned to the back and forth affair from early in the first half, as both teams matched each other shot for shot.  Blackburn managed to pull ahead to a six point lead with 6:39 to go, but couldn’t pull ahead any farther. 

Spalding turned on the pressure for the Beavers and managed to pull the game within one with :50 seconds left in the game.  But Chris Davis hit a tough contested layup to give the Beavers breathing room with :23 seconds left.  Forced to foul, Spalding sent Blackburn to the line, who had the opportunity to ice the game.  After DeAndre Manuel hit a free throw to put his team up 66-61 with :08 left.  The game was essentially over. 

One more Spalding three and a Jake Maestranzi free throw later, the Beavers beat the Golden Eagles 67-64. 

Blackburn was paced by Maestranzi who had 16 points, and Chris Davis who had 14.  DeAndre Manuel had a team-high eight rebounds, while also adding nine points and three assists.

This win keeps the Beavers in the very thick of the playoff hunt.  With a conference record of 4-5, they are only one game out of contention.  Next will be Fontbonne University this Saturday. 

Earlier this year, Blackburn beat Fontbonne on the road 89-83.  Fontbonne is one of four teams who sit only one game ahead of Blackburn.