BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- After getting little respect in the NCAA Division II South Region poll the past two weeks, the Paine College men opened tournament play with a statement win.
Denzel Dillingham scored 20 points and the Lions rolled to a 97-71 win over Clark Atlanta on Wednesday in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference quarterfinals.
“Our confidence level is through the roof,” Paine coach Jimmy Link said. “The difference was we kind of slowed them down, because they like to push it. We got out in transition off their misses, and it was really good to see us get out and hit ahead and advance the ball, which is what we harp on a lot.”
Paine (23-5), which extended its winning streak to nine games, advances to the tournament semifinals at 4:15 p.m. Friday, when it will play the Lane-Claflin winner. Despite winning their conference and recording the school’s most wins in 21 seasons, the Lions fell from seventh in the South Region poll to unranked last week. On Wednesday, Paine checked back in at No. 10 – a meaningless spot. The top eight teams in the region will advance to the NCAA Division II Tournament when the selections are announced Sunday night.
The Lions can earn a berth to the NCAA Tournament by winning two more games and gaining the SIAC’s automatic bid.
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