SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Hutchinson High School graduate Myles Thompson has delivered big plays in March throughout his basketball career. Now, he'll have the chance to do it on the biggest stage.
Thompson and his Southern Illinois Edwardsville (SIUE) team secured a spot in the NCAA Tournament with a 69-48 win over Southeast Missouri State in the Ohio Valley Conference championship game Saturday in Evansville, Indiana. The Cougars will enter the big dance with a 22-11 record.
Thompson contributed nine points and a team-high seven rebounds in the victory. This is the first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament for the Cougars.
In his first season at SIUE, he has played in 32 games, making one start while averaging 5.6 points and 3.9 rebounds in 18 minutes per game.
Before joining SIUE, Thompson helped lead Barton Community College to the NJCAA Division I national championship last March at Hutchinson Sports Arena. He had a breakout tournament, averaging 20.3 points and 8.3 rebounds, including three 20-point performances in four games as Barton captured its first-ever national title.
Thompson earned first-team all-conference honors and was named to the all-tournament teams for both the Region VI Tournament and the NJCAA National Tournament.
SIUE, an NCAA Division I program in the Ohio Valley Conference, is located in Edwardsville, Illinois. The Cougars are coached by former Butler Community College coach Brian Barone.