Story Courtesy of Saint Mary of the Woods College Athletics
DALTON, Ga. – In a thrilling Round of 32 matchup at the NAIA National Tournament, the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College men's basketball team defeated No. 3 Ave Maria (Fla.) 89-81 to advance to the program's first-ever NAIA National Sweet 16. The 11th-seeded Pomeroys (28-5) will move on to the next round after a hard-fought battle at Bandy Gym, marking a historic milestone for the school.
This victory not only propels SMWC (28-5) into the Sweet 16 for the first time, but also makes the Pomeroys the first team from Vigo County to reach Kansas City for the NAIA National Tournament since 1963, when Indiana State accomplished the feat. The Sweet 16 tournament will take place at the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. SMWC will face No. 2 Grace (No. 7 nationally-ranked) on Thursday (March 20) at 3 pm (CT). It will be the second of four games to be played in the historic arena on Thursday.
The Pomeroys have reached the NAIA Nationals for the second consecutive season, following a dominant performance throughout the River States Conference (RSC), where they won both the RSC Regular Season and Tournament Championships.
Greg Jenkins led the charge for Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, posting an incredible career-high 43 points in the win. Jenkins shot 14-25 from the field, including 4-5 from three-point range, and added 11-12 free throws. His performance was a key factor in keeping the Pomeroys ahead throughout the game.
Also contributing heavily was Shon Tupuola, who posted a double-double with 18 points and 20 rebounds, showing his dominance in the paint. DaMeriz Merriweather added 10 points and contributed with key assists, while Caleb Iheukwu and Greg Johnson each chipped in with valuable minutes off the bench.
SMWC started the game with a strong offensive performance, establishing an early lead. Greg Jenkins was the standout player, sinking several key 3-pointers to give his team a significant advantage. His first three-pointer, followed by another moments later, pushed the lead to 6-0. Jenkins continued to shine, adding another three and contributing a dunk to extend the lead to 13-2.
Ave Maria struggled to find their rhythm early on, with missed shots and turnovers holding them back. Jack Watkins and Jonathan Effertz were able to get on the board for Ave Maria, but St. Mary-Woods' relentless defense, highlighted by steals and offensive rebounds, kept them in control.
A dunk by Shon Tupuola increased the Pomeroys' lead to 17-2, and they continued to capitalize on Ave Maria's mistakes. By the mid-way point of the first half, SMWC had pushed their lead to 23-7 with a crucial three-pointer from Dameriz Merriweather. Despite the efforts of Ave Maria's Mark Monchecourt and Jaylen White, who contributed some key baskets, Ave Maria found themselves trailing 35-23 with just over six minutes remaining.
The Pomeroys continued to play an efficient game, maintaining their lead with a strong inside presence from Tupuola and Jenkins. Ave Maria, though fighting back with a few successful free throws and baskets from Monchecourt, were unable to close the gap. By the end of the first half, SMWC led 47-40, with a final jumper by Tupuola in the closing seconds pushing the lead back up after Ave Maria had made a brief push to close the gap.
The second half of the matchup between SMWC and Ave Maria saw a dominant performance from the Pomeroys, who pulled away in the final minutes for an 87-79 victory.
The game was tightly contested throughout, but SMWC used a balanced offensive attack and solid defense to take control.
Second Half Highlights:
Early in the half, SMWC pushed its lead to 53-46 after a successful 3-pointer from Jenkins, and continued to build momentum.
Ave Maria kept it close but the Pomeroys' defense and rebounding from players like Tupuola allowed them to maintain a cushion.
Jenkins had a big impact, scoring several key baskets in the paint, including a dunk at 13:17 that gave St. Mary-Woods a 61-53 lead.
Ave Maria continued to fight back, reducing the deficit to as low as 63-59 after a 3-pointer from Jaylen White. However, SMWC responded quickly with free throws and key steals.
The game started to slip away for Ave Maria as Jenkins and Tupuola contributed with multiple baskets in the closing minutes. At 1:13, Jenkins scored another basket, increasing the lead to 84-78.
Free throws from Tupuola and Jenkins in the final moments sealed the win for the Pomeroys, who held on for the 87-79 victory.
Ave Maria made a late push, with Jaylen White leading the way with 23 points, but the Pomeroys held strong in the second half, maintaining their lead throughout the game.
Despite strong performances from Jack Watkins and Miles Monchecourt, the Gyrenes were unable to overcome the Pomeroys' offensive firepower and relentless defense.
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College will now prepare for its Sweet 16 matchup, with the team eager to continue its historic run. This achievement is a testament to the hard work, commitment, and resilience of the entire program.