After the Weber State university men’s basketball team lost to the University of North Dakota in the Big Sky Championship title game, their hopes for post-season play were fulfilled as they received an invite to another post-season tournament.
“These guys just love playing basketball,” head coach Randy Rahe said after the loss. “We are going to find some place to go play, and we are going to play our asses off.”
A few days after the loss, the Wildcats accepted an invitation to play in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT). This was Weber State’s third time appearing in the CIT.
The Wildcats were set to take on Cal State Fullerton on March 16, where they defeated the Titans in California 80–76 in the first round.
The Wildcats also claimed the Riley Wallace Classic Title for winning that game.
Senior Jeremy Senglin led the Wildcats with 21 points, four assists, three steals and five rebounds.
Senior Kyndahl Hill earned his fifth double-double of the season, finishing the game with 18 points and 13 rebounds, earning himself the MVP title of the Riley Wallace Classic.
Free-throw shooting proved to be a huge game changer for the Wildcats, as they shot 25-of-27, knocking down 92 percent of their free throw attempts. That percentage ranks as the fourth best in Weber State history.
Senglin went 8-of-8 from the line, while Hill went 10-of-10.
After the win, the Wildcats faced Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the second round of the CIT in Corpus Christi, Texas on March 20.
The Wildcats ended their 2016-17 season Monday night as they dropped 82–73 to the Islanders.
“We just didn’t have the energy or juice tonight,” head coach Randy Rahe told Weber State Athletics after the game. “We just weren’t very fresh against a good basketball team, but I’m just so proud of this team.”
Senglin put up 27 points in his 124th — and final — game as a Wildcat. He will end his Weber State career as WSU’s all-time scoring leader with 2,078 points and is second place in scoring all-time in the Big Sky Conference.
Senglin will also finish his career as the Big Sky Conference career leader in 3-point shots, knocking down a total of 345.
Hill retired as a Wildcat after playing in 130 games. He finishes in sixth place in Weber State history for career rebounds and third for his career blocks.
“I’ve had as much fun coaching this team as any I’ve had,” Rahe said. “Jeremy Senglin and Kyndahl Hill are two of the best we’ve ever had and leave such a great legacy.”
The Wildcats concluded their season with a record of 20–14 and will say farewell to Senglin, Hill and senior Richaud Gittens.
“It’s been a fun ride and we are excited for the future,” Rahe said.
