Cyclone Men Wrap Up 2013-14 Season

The 2013-14 men's basketball team's national tournament run did not end the way coaches, players and fans would have liked with team losing on a last second three pointer to Mesabi Range in the regional quarter finals 68-67.  Overall, the team achieved so much during the season, they will have nothing to hang their heads about when looking back.
Here is a short list of milestones and memorable moments from this past season:

10 Game Win Streak to Start the Season
     In only the 2nd season at the NJCAA level, the 2013-14 season got off to a hot start, as the Cyclones rattled off 10 wins in a row to begin the season.  This included wins over Central Lakes College and Bismark State College, programs the SCTCC men had previously never beaten.  The Cyclones would end up winning 17 of their first 18 games.

Come back win at Itasca

     After trailing 72-52 with 10 minutes remaining in the second half of a game in Grand Rapids, MN the Cyclone men rallied to beat Itasca CC 83-82 on a Jared Noonan floater with 2.2 seconds left in the game.

Ranked Nationally for the First Time
     Coming off a season which saw the Cyclones post a 7-20 record in 2012-13, it is safe to say the men's team was not on anyone's radar.  However, after a great beginning to the season, SCTCC found themselves at #7 in the NJCAA Division 3 on December 3rd.  The Cyclones would remain a Top 10 team throughout the regular season, climbing as high as #2 on January 7th through January 22nd.  SCTCC finished the regular season ranked #7 in the polls.
Top 10 Match-up at Anoka-Ramsey
     On January 15th the #2 ranked SCTCC men traveled to #7 Anoka-Ramsey, for a NJCAA top 10 match-up, and the first of it's kind for St. Cloud Technical and Community College basketball.  The game lived up to the hype as both teams were evenly matched at each position.  The Cyclones gained a 14 point advantage early on in the 2nd half, leading 49-35, but from that point on it was a close contest.  Eleven lead changes and 12 ties would be the story, as the game went to two overtimes.  Riley West hit 1 of 2 free throws with 2.5 seconds remaining to put the Cyclones up 93-92, and Ted Lutterman was able to steal away a last second pass to seal the win.
Reversing Conference Record 4-10 to 10-4

     Coming into the MCAC southern division portion of the season, the Cyclones knew that no game would be easy to win.  SCTCC again broke through and defeated teams they had previously never beaten in their short history at the NJCAA level.  The mens team swept season series with Western Tech, Ridgewater College, Anoka-Ramsey and M-State Fergus Falls.  Reversing a conference record that stood at 4-10 (7th place) in 2012-13 to 10-4 (2nd place) in 2013-14.

First 20 Win Season in School History

     2013-14 marked the first season for Coach Cone, and in the basketball program's history, in which the team compiled 20+ wins (22-7).  The team won 12 games by double-digit margins. The Cyclones also won 5 games by a single basket.  The Cyclones finished the year 10-5 in games decided by three possessions or less.

Qualifying for the MCAC Tournament

    In only the second year of being a member of the MCAC and the NJCAA, the Cyclones qualified for the MCAC tournament held in Coon Rapids, MN.  The Cyclones ended the regular season with a 22-5 record, and a 2nd place finish in the southern division.