Salt Lake Community College advances to finals

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Three down, one to go.

The Salt Lake Community College men's basketball team put itself one win away from claiming the NJCAA national championship with another impressive blowout Friday night. The Bruins' defense clamped down on Three Rivers Community College and Brian Green went off again to lead SLCC to the 68-50 victory at the Sports Arena.

The lopsided win over the Missouri-based program puts the Bruins into their first-ever finals. They'll play either Seward County (Kan.) Community College or South Plains (Texas) College tonight at 7.

Green topped four Bruins in double figures with 19 points, including five 3-pointers. Vassy Banny added 15 points, DaVell Jackson had 13 and Andy Palmer chipped in 12 for SLCC, which shot 51 percent.

The Bruins' smothering defense was again the catalyst for the win, holding the Pirates to 34 percent shooting from the field and to just 20 points in the first half.