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Kirkwood rallies from 23-point deficit for spot in NJCAA D-II title game
DANVILLE, Ill. - Kirkwood will play for the national championship after defeating Essex County (N.J.), 77-66, Friday night in the NJCAA Div. II national tournament semifinals.
The Eagles (30-4) overcame a 17-point halftime deficit to secure their spot in the title game.
Kirkwood trailed 53-30 with 16:34 to go, then mounted a 21-1 run to get within 54-51 nine minutes later.
Byron Harp's 3-pointer tied the game at 58 with 5:01 left and Cristen Wilson buried a 3 to give Kirkwood its first lead, 61-58, with 3:47 to go.
Harp led the Eagles with 22 points off the bench; he made 13 of 14 free throws. Nick Richards had 15 points, Jacob Olsen 13 and Harp 12.
The Eagles made 9 of 18 3-pointers and overcame 23 turnovers with a 44-24 advantage on the boards.
Kirkwood will play Triton (Ill.) for the title Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.
Kirkwood's Byron Harp (15) makes a basket between DMACC's Brendan Lipovsky (33) and Tate Larsen (23) during the first half of their college basketball game at Johnson Hall in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016. (Stephen Mally/The Gazette)
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