Tigers headed back to the big dance for the third time in five years
Picked eighth in its conference at the start of the season, the Cowley College men's basketball team proved the doubters wrong all season and are now on their way to the NJCAA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship for the third time in the past five years.
The Tigers (27-5) were picked into the 24-team national tournament field during Sunday night's selection show, streamed live inside the President's Dining Room. Cowley will face No. 24-seed Allegany College of Maryland (26-7) on Sunday at 12:15 p.m. at the Hutchinson Sports Arena in Hutchinson, KS.
"We are very excited to be going dancing in Hutch," Cowley head coach Donnie Jackson said. "It's an absolute honor and privilege to participate in the national tournament. I am very excited for this group to be able to go. We would like to thank the committee for seeing our overall body of work. I know a lot of factors go into those decisions."
After a 63-year drought ended with the Tiger basketball team advancing to the 2020 national tournament for the first time since 1957, Cowley also advanced to the national tournament in 2021 before this year's Cinderella run.
"I have to give proper credit and respect to Coach (Tommy) DeSalme and Coach Eric (Nitsche) for the last two trips. It had been 63 years prior to that point," Jackson said.
Cowley is led by sophomore Jeff Nwankwo, whose 595 points scored on the season are the 14th most in the program's history. Nwankwo averages 18.6 points and 7.6 rebounds.
Fellow sophomore Corey Thomas averages a double-double with 11.9 points and 10.2 rebounds per game, while sophomore point guard Arzhonte Dallas averages 15.2 points per contest.
The Trojans are led by 6'6 sophomore Tyson Oghene, who averages 20.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Oghene is one of five players on the roster who average double figures in scoring.
"Allegany is a very good team that really shoots the three ball well," Jackson said. "They have one of the top wings in the country, and their point guard is an exceptional player. We will have our hands full."
The winner of Sunday's game will advance to face eighth-seeded Northwest Florida State on Monday at 5 p.m.