Men’s basketball team kept the ball rolling in the DIII NCAA Tournament
3 min read
“Both in the school and the community of Fredericksburg, it just, it means a lot to see that the community is supporting us,” Hasan Hammad, junior international business major said. | Photo Courtesy of UMW Athletics
By ANN KARR
Staff Writer
On March 14, the UMW men’s basketball won against the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse at home by a score of 73-68 and made the quarterfinals.
The Ron Rosner Arena was packed with supporters cheering on the team throughout the game and the postseason run.
“It’s electric, and it means a lot having all these people come out and show support for us,” said freshman forward Preston White.
This game was a mirror image of last year where they fell against Emory University in the Sweet 16. This is only the second time the men’s basketball team has made the Elite Eight, with the first time coming during the 2013-2014 season.
Junior international business major and forward Hasan Hammad emphasised how impactful the energy in the arena was.
“Having everybody come out, both in the school and the community of Fredericksburg, it’s just, it means a lot to see that the community is supporting us,” he said.
The energy in the arena carried into the first half, with both teams trading early baskets.
La Crosse secured an early lead, but UMW responded and pushed the intensity further to achieve a 41–35 lead at halftime.
In the second half, La Crosse continued to apply pressure and briefly regained the lead. With just under six minutes remaining and the Eagles trailing late, sophomore guard and business administration major Kye Robinson scored nine straight points, shifting the energy back in UMW’s favor.
The final five minutes were tense. With both teams battling it out and remaining neck and neck In the end, Robinson sealed the win with two free throws at 20 seconds left.
Junior guard and psychology major Jadon Burgess reflected on the impact of this intense win after the previous season’s run.
“Being on the team last year, the Sweet 16 was the round we lost in,” he said. “Then having the opportunity to play here at home and then advance to the Elite Eight is huge, as well as kind of put Fredericksburg and UMW on the map, on a national stage.”
This victory displayed a significant step in the team’s progress, as they were eliminated in the Sweet 16 in the previous season, and the team continues to grow and build on their nine-game winning streak.
With the continuous advancement of the team, it is necessary to recognize their development especially with such young players.
“We’ve got such a young team that being able to produce the way we are at this level just shows a lot of what the guys are, what the university can provide to us, and overall, just means what it means to be a UMW Eagle,” Hammad said.
Burgess emphasized the team’s unity and mindset as the main focus of the team’s success.
“For us, it’s all about sticking together as a team, no matter who we’re playing or where we’re playing, and just winning the day and winning each possession,” he said.
Making it into the Elite Eight, the Eagles are already one of the eight best DIII basketball teams in the country, outlasting 56 other teams. Instead of White reminiscing on how far they have come, he is letting how many games they have won motivate him.
“We’ve gone so far,” he said. “We’re just keeping trying to go forward.”
At the time of publication, the Eagles have not yet played the University of Chicago. Following a win, the Eagles’ next game will be against the winner of Trinity College (CT) and Tufts University in Fort Wayne, IN, on Saturday, March 21.
