TheMetropolitan BasketballSpecialEdition www.metnews.org
Runners’ Road for Title
Birthdays • Celebrations • Parties Conferences • Meetings
Congratulations on a spectacular season
from
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TheMetropolitan
Staff List Editor-in-chief Brian T. McGinn • bmcginn3@msudenver.edu Lead editor/ Page designer Kayla Whitney • kwhitne2@msudenver.edu Reporters Angelita Foster • amayer1@msudenver.edu Mario Sanelli • msanelli@msudenver.edu Photo editor Ryan Borthick • rborthic@msudenver.edu Photographers Cos Lindstrom-Furutani • clindst1@msudenver.edu Scott Lentz • slentz@msudenver.edu Philip Poston • pposton1@msudenver.edu Trevor Davis • tdavis84@msudenver.edu Rachel Fuenzalida Heather Newman • hnewman3@msudenver.edu Copy editors Kate Rigot • krigot@msudenver.edu Caitlin Sievers • csiever2@msudenver.edu Nikki Work • nwork@msudenver.edu Director of Student Media Steve Haigh • shaigh@msudenver.edu Assistant Director of Student Media Marlena Hartz • mhartz@msudenver.edu Administrative Assistant of Student Media Elizabeth Norberg • enorbert@msudenver.edu Production Manager of Student Media Kathleen Jewby • kjewby@ msudenver.edu This basketball issue is a special edition of The Metropolitan. The Metropolitan is produced by and for the students of Metropolitan State University of Denver and serves the Auraria Campus. The Metropolitan is supported by advertising revenue and student fees and is published every Thursday during the academic year and monthly during the summer semester. Opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of MSU Denver or its advertisers.
Photo Credits
Cover: Senior Jonathan Morse and the Roadrunners sign autographs during the NCAA
75th Year Anniversary April 5 at the Georgia World Congress Complex. By Ryan Borthick
Page 3: Scott Lentz Pages 8-9:
Left page-top left: Sophomore forward/center Nicholas Kay gets worked by Drury defender Lonnie Boga (left) and Cameron Adams April 7. Left page-bottom left: Metro players snap photos during the Final Four game April 6. Right page-top right: Junior guard Brandon Jefferson snaps a photo April 6 Right page-top right: Senior forward/center Jonathan Morse finishes a one-handed dunk. By Rachel Fuenzalida Right page-bottom left: Coach Derrick Clark talks to the Roadrunners. Right page-middle left: Metro State fights for a rebound. Right page-bottom right: Metro guard Mitch McCarron defends against Drury April 7. By Ryan Borthick Pages 12-13: Combination of photographers
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Table of Contents Pages 4-5 Season timeline Page 6 NCAA Division II championship game Page 7 Watch party Season recap Pages 8-9 Championship photos Page 11 Q&A with Coach Clark Pages 12-13 The Roadrunners
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h g u o r h T n o s a e s the
March March 9 Feb. 22 Jan. 19 Jan. 18
Dec. 1
March 19
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March 30 March 28 April 7
The big games
March 9: No. 4 Metro defeats No. 22 Fort Lewis College 61-60 to win the RMAC title and the right to host the South Central Regional tournament. Photo by Scott Lentz: Senior forward/center Jonathan Morse jumps at the tipoff.
Dec. 1: No. 3 Metro wins first RMAC game at home 88-65 over Regis University. Photo by Cosme Lindstrom-Furutani: Senior guard Demetrius Miller soars in for a basket.
March 19: No. 3 Metro defeats No. 23 St. Mary’s (Texas) 78-70 for the South Central Region championship and heads to the NCAA Elite Eight. Photo by Philip Poston: The Roadrunners hoist the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Championship trophy.
Jan. 18: No. 2 Metro beats No. 13 Adams State University at home 88-71. Photo by Ryan Borthick: Sophomore forward/center Nicholas Kay reaches for a basket.
March 28: No. 3 Metro rolls over Franklin Pierce (N.H.) 78-65 to advance to NCAA Final Four. Photo courtesy of Rachel Fuenzalida: Junior guard Brandon Jefferson splits two Franklin Pierce defenders.
Jan. 19: Metro wins 71-65 over No. 17 Fort Lewis College and moves to No. 1. Photo by Ryan Borthick: Senior forward/center Jonathan Morse tries to reclaim the ball.
March 30: No. 3 Metro ends No. 1 West Liberty’s (W. Va.) season 83-76 and advances to the Division II championship game in Atlanta, Ga. Photo by Cosme Lindstrom-Furutani: The Roadrunners celebrate after defeating West Liberty in the Final Four.
Feb. 22: No. 17 Fort Lewis College snaps Metro’s 22-game winning streak and drops them to No. 2 after five consecutive weeks at No. 1. The game’s score was 61-54. Photo courtesy of Metro Athletic Department: Sophomore forward/center Nicholas Kay moves in the paint.
April 7: No. 3 Metro loses to No. 7 Drury University (Mo.) 74-73 in the national title game in Atlanta, Ga. Photo by Ryan Borthick: Sophomore guard Mitch McCarron sprints down the court.
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Roadrunners fight to final buzzer
After six months and 36 games, it all came down to 22.8 seconds. Metro men’s basketball had a stellar 32-3 season, but ended it as runners-up with a 74-73 loss to No. 7 Drury University (Mo.) in the NCAA Division II national championship April 7 at Philips Arena in Atlanta. Senior guard Demetrius Miller started the game off in championship fashion, sinking one from outside the arc — putting the Roadrunners up 3-0 in the first minute of play and sending the crowd of nearly 7,800 into a frenzy. It looked like it might be a game of threes when Panthers sophomore guard Drake Patterson responded with back-to-back 3-pointers. Then, Metro sophomore guard Mitch McCarron added three, putting the Runners up 10-6, only to be answered by Panthers senior guard Alex Hall with an outside shot of his own, making it a one-point game in the first four minutes. Junior guard Brandon Jefferson then scored 10 points for the Roadrunners in a two-minute period. He maneuvered through traffic and put up a fade-away jumper with 9:08 left in the first half, putting his team up 20-17. Then, he was fouled and sunk both free-throws. Jefferson made his next two from outside the arc. The Roadrunners were up 30-22 with less than six minutes remaining in the half. The first half ended with a 3-pointer from Panthers senior guard Brandon Lockhart, but the Roadrunners headed to the locker room up 39-27. Metro seemed to control the first half of the game with their trademark defense. They outrebounded the Panthers 39-27, had 12 steals, and converted the turnovers into 19 points. The Panthers opened the second half when Hall hit a three in the first 15 seconds and led his team on a 21-10 run. Hall hit another three from outside the arc with 9:20 left in the game and gave the Panthers a 59-58 lead. The Panthers’ lead was brief, as Metro sophomore forward/ center Nicholas Kay put in a quick layup to regain the lead. The Roadrunners led by six with 3:51 left, but the Panthers’ defense held them from scoring and forced two turnovers. The Runners were up 73-69 with 3:19 left to play, when sophomore forward Cameron Adams scored for the Panthers, making it a one-point game. The Roadrunners’ Miller fouled out with 2:09 left. Adams went to the free-throw line at the minute mark and had a chance to put the Panthers up. He missed both shots, but redeemed himself by making one of the next two from the line. Jefferson — an 80 percent free throw shooter — and Kay — a 78 percent shooter — both had chances to seal the win for the Roadrunners at the charity stripe, but missed. TheDrury’s Hall grabbed the rebound off of Kay’s miss, fell to the floor and drew the foul. Hall hit both of his free throws, putting the Panthers up 74-73. The Roadrunners made a last run, with 22.8 seconds on the clock. McCarron missed a baseline layup with four seconds left, and ran out of time on a second attempt to score. Metro didn’t leave the paint as champions, but they played with high energy and put up an incredible fight right up until the final buzzer rang. Angelita Foster amayer1@msudenver.edu Top: Junior guard Brandon Jefferson can’t get off a final shot before the final buzzer in the championship game. Photo courtesy of MSU Denver alumna Rachel Fuenzalida Bottom: Sophomore guard Mitch McCarron and forward/center Jonathan Morse sprint down the court during the NCAA Division II championship game. Photo by Ryan Borthick • rbothic@msudenver.edu
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Fans fill Brooklyn’s with basketball pride While the Roadrunners battled it out in Atlanta, Brooklyn’s at the Pepsi Center was filled with red, blue and spirit at the watch party. Fans packed the bar and grill to support their men’s basketball team, which was defeated by Drury University in the NCAA Division II national title game April 7. The game marks the Roadrunners’ fourth attempt to claim the championship and second time as the runners-up for the national title. Metro entered the game ranked No. 3, while Drury was ranked No. 7. Metro held the board for almost the entire game, until the last few minutes when the Top left: A fan at the watch party cheers for the Roadrunners. Brian T. McGinn • bmcginn3@msudenver.edu Top right: Alumnus Jon Boraz shows he still has school spirit. Kayla Whitney • kwhitne2@msudenver.edu
Panthers clawed their way to the 74-73 win. The watch party was put on by Brooklyn’s and the MSU Denver Alumni Association to allow fans who couldn’t make it to Atlanta to support the Roadrunners from home. “This was amazing,” said Gini Mennenga, the office manager of the Alumni Association, who helped run the event. “We had over 200 people here, we cheered on a great team, watched an amazing game, and we should all be very proud.” The Alumni Association handed out red and blue beads and pompoms to decorate the bar and grill with Roadrunner pride. A raffle was also held, and winners received MSU Denver swag. Although the Roadrunners didn’t take home the national title, their fans at home still cheered them on the whole way.
Record-breaking season When teams compete for a national title, it’s usually for all or nothing. But ending up No. 2 nationally is a huge achievement in itself. The men’s basketball team had a spectacular season, and though they didn’t come home from the NCAA Division II game against Drury University (Mo.) with the championship trophey, they broke many team records and ended the season with several achievements through the hoop. According to the team’s statistics on gometrostate.com, this season Metro had the best start in school history, going 22-0 until Feb. 22, when they were defeated by Fort Lewis. The Roadrunners came back with a vengeance March 9 and beat Fort Lewis to earn the RMAC title. Third-year head coach Derrick Clark was named NAMC South Central Region coach of the year and RMAC coach of the year. Three players were named first team academic all-RMAC — Mitch McCarron, Jonathan Morse and Nicholas Kay. Morse ended the season with 15 honors, and reached 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds, making him the first player in school history to reach 1,000 rebounds. He was also the fifth player in RMAC history to achieve 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds. This season also marked Metro’s fourth appearance in the NCAA Division II championship game in the school’s history. The men’s basketball team has advanced to the NCAA tournament 15 times in the past 16 years, which is the most of any Division II school.
1999 In the 1999 NCAA Division II national championship game, Metro finished as the runner-up. They lost 75-60 to Kentucky Wesleyan College. 2000 Metro got their revenge against KWC in 2000. The Roadrunners won 97-79 in the NCAA Division II national championship game, their first national title. 2002 Déjà vu hit as Metro beat KWC once again in 2002 for their second Division II championship title. Metro defeated the Panthers 80-72. 2013 Speaking of déjà vu, this year’s game against Drury was the Roadrunners’ fourth confrontation with a pack of panthers on the paint. Although KWC and Drury are different schools, their mascots share the same intimidating claws and fangs that attempted to de-feather the Roadrunners for the championship title. This season, the black beast got the best of the bird, leaving Metro one point short of a national title, 74-73. Stories by Kayla Whitney kwhitne2@msudenver.edu
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Clark reflects on season and profession Men’s basketball head coach Derrick Clark had a nice wrap-up to his third season as head coach with the Roadrunners. He was named the 2013 Schelde North American/Division II Bulletin coach of the year, and guided his team to a 32-3 season and a shot at the NCAA Division II national championship. Clark was also named the 201213 NABC South Central Region coach of the year and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference coach of the year. Clark was an assistant coach for Mike Dunlap (now the head coach of the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats) when the Roadrunners won the national title in 2000 and 2002. In 2011-12, his second season Clark brought the Roadrunners back to the Elite Eight for the first time since Dunlap’s 2005 team. Clark and Dunlap are the only two head coaches to take the Roadrunners to an NCAA tournament in their first two seasons. The Metropolitan caught up with Clark to talk about the season and the athletic history and tradition at MSU Denver. The Metropolitan: What was it like for you when you were hired as the head coach after being an assistant coach here for eight years? Derrick Clark: It was always the natural evolution for me to be back here because I have such a great relationship with Joan McDermott, our great athletic director. I always kept that relationship. Even when I was gone for five years, we stayed in close touch, and when the opportunity presented itself to come back, I jumped at it. This is a place that is close to my heart. MET: What was it like to work with Dunlap? What did you learn from him? DC: I don’t know if you have enough tape for me to tell you what I’ve learned from him and all the lessons I’ve learned. One of the greatest things I have learned from Coach is preparation, and I always prepare for the moment. I’ve been preparing for this thing here for 13 years as an assistant — to have an opportunity to run my own program, and not only my own program, but a program with the prestige and the history here at Metro State. He always preached “be ready for your moment,” and how you prepare for the moment is you just continue to get better. You study the game, pay attention to players and how to handle them — so that’s what I have taken from him.
MET: Where did your passion for defensive play come from? Were you a defensive player yourself? DC: Yes. I excelled at defending because I took great pride in doing it. To me, defense is about pride. It’s almost a primal thing of “you against I” – I am trying to stop you from doing something you want to do. As a competitor, you embrace that. I always thought of myself as a defensive guy. I’m not telling you I’m the most talented, but you could depend on me to give a great effort on the defensive side of it. It’s about pride, and not wanting to get scored on, that will trigger something in you as a competitor. Coaches you will speak to at this level, at any level, the common denominator is competition. That’s all defense is about. MET: Have you ever seen yourself, or have you ever thought about, moving up to coach at the Division I level? DC: I’m a more [of an] “in the moment” kind of guy. I want to do a great job where I am at now. When you speak back to that competition part, do you measure yourself against that higher standard? Sure you do. I would never get wrapped up in that, because then I wouldn’t do a good job. MET: Can you talk about your experience here in Atlanta and what it’s like to have so much support here? DC: I think it’s awesome. When you get a special opportunity like playing for a national championship, it’s only as good as the people you share it with. To me, the priorities in my life are my family, and that’s why I drive myself as hard as I do, because I want them to be proud of me. And, I want to provide for them in the best way possible. This is a special situation in our lives, for the players, and for myself, and I want to share that with my family. My wife is getting a little bit of recognition for this thing, but it’s never enough – for being a great mother, for being a great wife, a great support system – that’s my assistant coach. So, for me to be able to share this with my family, it’s their moment as much as mine. I want them to just enjoy it. Angelita Foster amayer1@msudenver.edu
Men’s basketball coach Derrick Clark in Atlanta before the Roadrunners went up against Drury University (Mo.) for the NCAA Division II championship title. Photo by Ryan Borthick • rbothic@msudenver.edu
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The Roadrunners #1
Jamal McClerkin
Guard
Weight
Height
Weight
6’2”
200
5’9”
175
Year/Major
Year/Major
Junior/Communication
Junior/Sports Industry Operations
GP -FT% - 3PT% - PPG - PTS
GP -FT% - 3PT% - PPG - PTS
Nicholas Kay
Forward/center
#10
Height
34 - .519 - .5 - 2.4 - 83
#4
#3 Brandon Jefferson
Guard
#5
Derrick January
Height
Weight
Height
Weight
6’8”
220
6’6”
180
Year/Major
Year/Major
Sophomore/Biology
Senior/Sports Industry Operations
GP -FT% - 3PT% - PPG - PTS
GP -FT% - 3PT% - PPG - PTS
34 - .772 - .37 - 10.7 - 365
Guard
32 - .611 - .00 - 2.2 - 69
Mitch McCarron
#15
Eric Rayer
Height
Weight
Height
Weight
6’3”
215
6’1”
165
Year/Major
Year/Major Freshman/Business Marketing
Sophomore/Sports Industry Operations GP -FT% - 3PT% - PPG - PTS
Guard
35 - .799 - .48 - 14.8 - 519
35 - .781 - .508 - 13.2 - 461
GP -FT% - 3PT% - PPG - PTS
Guard
20 - .571 - .143 - .6 - 11
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#20
DeShawn Phenix
#21
13
Tyler Cooper
Weight
Height
Weight
6’5”
205
6’3”
195
Year/Major Senior/Sports Industry Operations
Sophomore/Sports Industry Operations GP -FT% - 3PT% - PPG - PTS
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Height
Year/Major
Forward
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GP -FT% - 3PT% - PPG - PTS
27 - .632 - .00 - 2.7 - 74
Guard
35 - .571 - .4 - 2.6 - 90
Sam Porter
#23
Jourdon Hunter
Height
Weight
Height
Weight
6’5”
205
6’0”
165
Year/Major
Year/Major
Sophomore/Aviation Operation
Freshman/Industrial Design
GP -FT% - 3PT% - PPG - PTS
GP -FT% - 3PT% - PPG - PTS
Guard
23 - .75 - .333 - .9 - 20
Guard
22 - .727 - .318 - 2.6 - 57
#24
Demetrius Miller
#33
Luka Djurisic
Height
Weight
Height
Weight
6’1”
185
6’6”
195
Year/Major
Year/Major
Senior/Sports Industry Operations
Freshman/Economics
GP -FT% - 3PT% - PPG - PTS
GP -FT% - 3PT% - PPG - PTS
Guard
35 - .783 - .398 - 13.8 - 483
#44
Jonathan Morse Height
Weight
6’8”
245
Year/Major
Senior/Biology GP -FT% - 3PT% - PPG - PTS
Forward/center
35 - .724 - .00 - 14.6 - 510
Forward
16 - .222 - .00 - .8 - 12
WAY TO GO
ROADRUNNERS NCAA DIVISION II RUNNERS-UP
VISIT US AT WWW.COLORADOCUTTHROAT.COM
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CONGRATULATES THE
ROADRUNNERS ON A SEASON WORTH CHEERING ABOUT
Roadrunners. Then. Now. Forever. msudenver.edu/alumni