Top two AMC teams battle in championship

The now-No. 2 Cougars, who avenged the loss to Missouri Baptist 84-68 on Wednesday in the AMC semifinals, will have yet another chance for revenge against No. 1 McKendree in the AMC Tournament championship game tonight at 7 p.m. in Lebanon, Ill.

Although both Columbia College and McKendree are locks to make the NAIA Division I National Tournament in two weeks, tonight’s game will determine who gets the higher seed in the tournament, with the Cougars currently ranked No. 15 in the NAIA and the Bearcats No. 16.

“The seeds don’t always turn out the way they’re supposed to,” said Cougar coach Bob Burchard, who won his 300th career game in Wednesday’s AMC semifinal. “We’ve never played a championship game there before and I’m looking forward to it.”

Columbia College (25-7) is riding a three-game winning streak into tonight’s contest.

Jerrod Thompson, a sharpshooter at guard, leads the Cougars down the stretch. The junior college transfer from Moberly Area Community College was last week’s AMC player of the week and has averaged more than 30 points in the last three games.

“I’m feeling great and have been able to put a string of good games together here,” said Thompson after his 28-point performance on Wednesday. “The team’s getting on a roll now and we’re going to be tough to beat in the playoffs.”

Although Thompson has been the offensive sparkplug for the Cougars all season at 14.1 points per game, 1999 All-AMC selection Lawrence Thomas has been the defensive stalwart. He leads the team with 6.4 rebounds per game and 27 block shots. The 6-foot-5 forward is also the team’s second-leading scorer at 11.1 points per contest.

Today will mark Thomas’ final AMC game in what has been a stellar two-year career. Thomas helped lead the Cougars to the Sweet 16 of last year’s NAIA Tournament, when he led the Cougars to a 23-8 record while averaging 13.5 points per game.

“(McKendree) got lucky when we were in their place,” said Thomas, referring to the Bearcats 61-60 loss at McKendree, with the Bearcats’ Nic Stotler making a last-second basket. “We’re going to go out and do the things that we do best for a longer period of time than they do. Hopefully, we’ll come out with a victory.”

McKendree (25-6) features AMC Newcomer of the Year candidate Stotler, who is the team’s second-leading scorer at 16.5 points per game, and AMC MVP candidate Matt Laur. The 6-11 freshman center is the leading the conference in rebounding (11.4 rebounds per game) and is second in scoring (18.1 points per game).

“He’s a very strong young man, but very immature — like a colt,” Bearcats coach Harry Statham said. “He’s just going to get better when he gets a little more maturity. Matt showed a lot of savvy and poise in putting up the big numbers he has this year.”

This will mark the Cougars’ fourth trip to the AMC title game in the seven-year history of the conference. Columbia College will be going for its third title, with one of its AMC banners coming after a 62-61 win over McKendree in the 1997 title game.

With a win or an at-large bid, the Cougars will travel to Tulsa for the NAIA Tournament, which will take place from March 14-20. Seedings for the tournament will be announced Monday.

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