CHICAGO --- The semifinal-round matchups of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament could not have been any better with both games going to overtime before top-seeded Governors State University and No. 2 University of St. Francis prevailed.

GSU earned a 73-69 win over No. 4 Trinity Christian College, while No. 2 St. Francis outlasted No. 6 St. Ambrose University 95-90.  That sets up a rematch of last year's championship game, which was won by St. Francis 73-63 in Joliet.

This year's battle will also be the rubber game of the series after both teams claimed victory at home during the regular season.  Governors State (22-8) won 83-71 on Jan. 3, while St. Francis returned the favor 86-70 on Feb. 7.

The title game will take place at GSU's Athletics & Recreation Center on Monday at 7 pm.

Recapping Friday:

Governors State 73, Trinity Christian 69 --- OT
Trinity Christian trailed by as many as ten points in the second half only to go back and forth with Governors State late in the game.  TCC's Garrett Greene forced overtime with his late three-pointer as part of a 23-point night for him.  Vincent Mayes put up 17 points, five rebounds and five blocks for the Jaguars, who also received 15 points from Trae Warren off the bench.

St. Francis 95, St. Ambrose 90 --- OT
St. Ambrose also rallied from a ten-point, second-half deficit and had the lead in the closing seconds of regulation before Merrick Small's layup with seven seconds remaining for St. Francis forced the extra period.  USF took the lead early in overtime and never gave it back thanks in large part to Damarcies Moore, who had a career-high 34 points and ten rebounds on the night.  He was perfect at the line (12-of-12) and 9-of-14 from the field with four three-pointers.  Joffrey Nunnally (16 points) was another of four Saint starters to score in double figures.  Guillermo Narbona's 35 points for SAU on 15-of-20 shooting from the field – 4-of-5 from three-point range – led all scorers.  Ignacio Dacunda also had a big performance with his 22 points, 15 boards and five assists.     

The results and remaining schedule follow:

Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Game #1: No. 1 seed Governors State 76, Indiana Northwest 67
Game #2: No. 4 seed Trinity Christian 84, No. 5 seed Indiana South Bend 68
Game #3: No. 2 seed St. Francis 99, No. 7 seed Saint Xavier 78
Game #4: No. 6 seed St. Ambrose 78, No. 3 seed Olivet Nazarene 75 

Friday, February 27, 2026 (at site of highest remaining seed)
Game #5: No. 1 seed Governors State 73, No. 4 seed Trinity Christian 69 --- OT
Game #6: No. 2 seed St. Francis 95, No. 6 seed St. Ambrose 90 --- OT 

Monday, March 2, 2026 (at site of highest remaining seed)
Game #7: No. 2 seed St. Francis (22-7) at No. 1 seed Governors State (22-8) --- 7 pm

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CHICAGO --- No. 6 seed St. Ambrose University gained the headlines on Wednesday night after the Fighting Bees pulled off the lone upset in the first round of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament.  SAU scored the final five points of the game to oust No. 3 Olivet Nazarene University 78-75.

The rest of the tournament slate went true to form with top-seeded Governors State University, No. 2 University of St. Francis and No. 4 Trinity Christian College all winning.  GSU ended Indiana University Northwest's season with a 76-67 victory, St. Francis knocked off Saint Xavier University 99-78 and Trinity Christian got the better of Indiana University South Bend 84-68.

That sets up Friday's semifinal matchups with Governors State (21-8) hosting Trinity Christian (17-12) and St. Ambrose (14-15) heading across Interstate 80 to take on St. Francis (21-7).  Both games tip off at 7 pm.

The two winners on Friday play for the CCAC Tournament championship on Monday night.

Recapping Wednesday:

Governors State 76, Indiana Northwest 67
Indiana Northwest had an early lead before Governors State took control.  The Jaguars placed five players in double figures, topped by Maxwell Marius' 20 points and six rebounds and Vincent Mayes' 17 points and seven boards.  Antonio Phillips led the way for Indiana Northwest with 18 points.

St. Francis 99, Saint Xavier 78
St. Francis scored a season-high 99 points courtesy of a red-hot .682 shooting clip from three-point range (15-of-22) and .607 mark overall.  The Saints actually shot better from long distance than at the free throw line (.667).  Joffrey Nunnally was lights out, going a perfect 8-for-8 from beyond the arc and 9-of-11 overall for 27 points.  Damarcies Moore (20 points, 12 rebounds) also reached the 20-point threshold, while Merrick Small (19 points, 8 rebounds) just missed.  Ashton Atwater and Ike Nwaobi did the same for Saint Xavier with 20 points each.

St. Ambrose 78, Olivet Nazarene 75
St. Ambrose had five double-figure scorers, including four starters.  Ignacio Dacunda (14 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists) was one of them.  He accounted for the final five Bee points, including the go-ahead free throw with five seconds left to play.  Guillermo Narbona also had 17 points for St. Ambrose, which shot .533 from the field (32-of-60) and .429 from three-point range (9-of-21).  Olivet Nazarene's Eli Edwards led all scorers with 25 points to go along with his 10 rebounds.

Trinity Christian 84, Indiana South Bend 68
Garrett Greene led a group of four Troll players in double figures with his 31 points.  Wandy Munoz came off the bench to deliver 17 points for TCC, which shot .588 from the field (30-of-51).  CJ Hornbeak and Ethan Hill each had 13 points for Indiana South Bend.     

The results and remaining schedule follow:

Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Game #1: No. 1 seed Governors State 76, Indiana Northwest 67
Game #2: No. 4 seed Trinity Christian 84, No. 5 seed Indiana South Bend 68
Game #3: No. 2 seed St. Francis 99, No. 7 seed Saint Xavier 78
Game #4: No. 6 seed St. Ambrose 78, No. 3 seed Olivet Nazarene 75 

Friday, February 27, 2026 (at site of highest remaining seed)
Game #5: No. 4 seed Trinity Christian (17-12) at No. 1 seed Governors State (21-8) --- 7 pm
Game #6: No. 6 seed St. Ambrose (14-15) at No. 2 seed St. Francis (21-7) --- 7 pm 

Monday, March 2, 2026 (at site of highest remaining seed)
Game #7: Winner-Game #5 vs. Winner-Game #6 --- TBA