A TREMENDOUS performance from both Dola Adebayo and Jedy Cordilia has inspired the Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers to a gutsy win over the American University Eagles in the NCAAM National Tournament on Thursday morning.

The first clash of the day saw the Eagles and Mountaineers lock horns at UD Arena in the first clash of the tournament for either side. The winner of the clash would face a matchup with the daunting Duke Blue Devils later this week, but the loser would see their fairytale hopes dashed, so it was a do-or-die clash.

It was the Mountaineers’ first half that proved to be the decisive factor in the match, with Mount St. Mary’s completely owning the start to the match and putting a whopping 48 points on the board to lead by 13 at the change. Although the Eagles’ defensive efforts lifted in the second half, it was too little, too late as the Mountaineers advanced to the next round and booked a date with Duke.

The dynamic duo of Adebayo and Cordilia proved to be the game-breaking factor, with the pair doing as they pleased on the offensive end and leading their side to a winning score.

Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers (83) def. American University Eagles (72)

Dola Adebayo – 22 points, four rebounds, one assist, one steal
Jedy Cordilia – 22 points, seven rebounds, two assists, two steals

It was the Mountaineers star duo that lit up UD Arena on Thursday and helped their side advance to the first round of the National Tournament.

Adebayo was always a key figure for the match, having averaged 13 points on the season and been a focal point on the offensive end for Mount St. Mary’s in his junior campaign. More than capable of producing a highlight out of nowhere, he did exactly that in the first half, throwing down a massive slam over the Eagles defender to inject even more energy into his side.

Regardless of how well he is shooting the ball, Adebayo is always going to look for his spots, and he worked his way into the game nicely in the first half, finding success scoring the rock inside with his three-point shot not quite falling.

He finished the game with over a quarter of his team’s score and shot an impressive 9/15 from the field, which was a positive considering how tightly he was guarded at times. His ability to overcome some poor shooting from range shows how dynamic his offensive arsenal is.

On the other hand, Cordillia was nearly perfect in his offensive output against the Eagles, having his way in the low block and showing a deft touch around the rim to prove too crafty for the American University defence.

He nailed eight of his nine attempts from the field, often waiting until the highest percentage shot possible before firing off an attempt, and often leaving the opposition defenders in his wake as he got to the cup.

Although Adebayo’s efforts may have been flashier, it was a clinical performance from the forward, who is averaging 10 points and seven boards in his senior season. Although the Mountaineers will be heavy underdogs against the Blue Devils, Adebayo and Cordilia will give their team the best chance possible if they can replicate their efforts here.