Region XIV title and NJCAA tournament berth up for grabs this week in Tyler

Amanda L. Booren - 3/2/2009 Sophomore Jerrod Tillmon and the San Jacinto College men's basketball team will play for a Region XIV title this week in Tyler.

PASADENA, Texas – The San Jacinto College men’s basketball team will vie for a berth in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national tournament this week at the Region XIV tournament in Tyler.

San Jac will be the number eight seed, after finishing the regular season with a 19-11 overall record, 11-8 in Region XIV play. They will face No. 9 Angelina (16-14, 8-11) in the opening game of the tournament at 1 p.m., on Thursday, March 5. Although San Jac defeated Angelina twice during the regular season, head coach Scott Gernander cautions that they are capable of beating anyone in the tournament. “They have one of the most talented teams in the league,” notes Gernander.

This year’s tournament is being held at the Louise Herrington Patriot Center on the campus of the University of Texas at Tyler. "I love the tournament being at the University of Texas at Tyler," said Gernander. "I have always felt that no team should have a home court advantage for a tournament this important. Plus, UT Tyler has outstanding facilities."

San Jacinto College had an up and down season, starting the year as the league favorite and ranked seventh in the country. "It’s a little different for us going in as the 8th seed, but that is the type of season we’ve had," added Gernander. "I think every team in it (the Region XIV tournament), from 1 through 12, thinks that this is a new season and that they have a chance to win. We are looking at it as a one game season.'

San Jacinto is led by sophomore forward Maurice McNeill (New York, New York / University Park Prep [Houston]) who averages a double-double with 20 points per game and 11 rebounds per game. He leads the team in both categories, and is second in the conference in scoring and first in rebounds. McNeil has started 28 games this season for Gernander’s squad, which is looking for its 20th trip to the national tournament. SJC last won the national title in 1986 after completing an undefeated season with a 37-0 record. Gernander is finishing his 22nd year at the helm of a San Jacinto College program that has made eight national tournament appearances under his tutelage.

Lon Morris, Paris, Tyler and Jacksonville are the top four seeds, respectively, and earn a bye into Saturday’s quarterfinals. Rounding out the top eight seeds are No. 5 Navarro, No. 6 Blinn, and No. 7 Trinity Valley. Panola is the 10th seed, Lee College is the 11 seed, and Kilgore is the 12th seed. The tournament runs through Monday, March 9.

For complete tournament information, updates and live game coverage, visit the Region XIV tournament website at www.uttyler.edu/athletics/region14.

For more information about San Jacinto College athletics, visit www.sanjacsports.com.

San Jacinto College serves more than 24,500 students in more than 140 degrees and certificates in university transfer and technical programs. The College also serves the community through workforce training. Students come with various goals and aspirations and we are committed to their success. San Jacinto College. Your Goals. Your College.