Another region champion banner can go up in the O’Connell Center, as the Clark College men’s basketball team will go to the NWAC playoffs as a No. 1 seed for the third season in a row.
The NWAC defending champs, however, lost their final regular-season game 84-79 to Umpqua at Roseburg, Ore., on Saturday.
The Penguins (21-7, 12-4 NWAC South) were down 47-33 at halftime, and saw it’s second-half rally come up short.
Clark’s Bryan Berg led all scorers with 27 points. Norris Marusca had 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Devon Hawkins had 12 points and eight rebounds. (Click here for complete boxscore)
As a top seed, Clark will host former region foe Tacoma at 5 p.m. March 5 in an NWAC regional playoff game. The winner advances to bracket play in Everett, March 11-13. (Click here to see the NWAC bracket)
WOMEN: Umpqua 79, Clark 64 — The Penguins came up short in the regular-season finale at Roseburg.
Caylee Newsom led the Penguins in scoring with 20 points and nine rebounds. Livia Strandberg had 13 points, five rebounds and four assists, and Brean Nueku had 11 points. (Click here for complete boxscore)
Umpqua’s Anna Mumm led all scorers with 26 points and 12 rebounds.
Clark (17-11, 9-7 NWAC South) finished the season tied with Chemeketa for the fourth and final playoff spot in the division. Clark and Chemeketa will play a tiebreaker at 6 p.m. Monday in Salem, Ore., for the final playoff spot.
