SCC vs. WISCONSIN EAU CLAIRE

RECORDS--Southern California College 26-8, Wisconsin Eau Claire 27-3

SITE--Kemper Arena, Kansas City, Mo., 10:30 a.m. PST.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COLLEGE UPDATE--The Vanguards are making their first appearance in the NAIA basketball tournament and Coach Bill Reynolds said last week that all he was hoping for was a respectable showing and maybe a first-round victory. “The rest would be gravy,” he said. Thanks to an impressive 102-82 victory over Washburn University Tuesday, the Vanguards are in the gravy. SCC shot 57% from the floor and played inspired defense, taking six charges. Forward Terry Scruggs led the way with 32 points, but all five starters scored in double figures.

WISCONSIN EAU CLAIRE UPDATE--The Blugolds are making their 18th appearance in the tournament and are the second-seeded team. They smothered Philadelphia Pharmacy, 75-51, in the first round Tuesday, improving Coach Ken Anderson’s 22-year record to 526-116. Duane Bushman, a 6-foot-7 junior forward, came off the bench to lead Eau Claire with 16 points. The Blugolds have never won the NAIA tournament, but they finished second in 1972, third in 1981 and fourth in 1980. Last year, they lost in the semifinals to the eventual champion East Central Oklahoma, 58-56. “I’ve been here the last three years with this team and we’ve gotten farther each time,” said senior Tim Blair, who scored 15 points Tuesday. “We’ve got experience. Hopefully, that will help.”