Sophomore Julian Strickland scored 30 points in the HCAC title game and was MVP of the conference tournament. Rose-Hulman athletics file photo

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology coach Jim Shaw didn't focus on earning an unlikely NCAA automatic berth in a grueling three-day stretch.

"The conference championship is the goal, the NCAA tournament is the reward," Shaw said.

The Fightin' Engineers earned the HCAC crown by topping Transylvania 76-73 in overtime Sunday. Julian Strickland scored 30 points and was named the MVP. It was the third game in three days for the Engineers. The Engineers were at the top of their game as they were under 20 turnovers for the tournament.

"We played 125 minutes in less than 48 hours of competitive, hard-nosed basketball with some tough teams," Shaw said. "We had to sustain level of high play to get there. We knew wouldn't be in tournament without winning the conference tournament."

It'll be the first time since 1998-99 that the Engineers made it to the NCAA tournament. It's also the first 20-win season since then. Rose-Hulman is currently 20-8.

"We're awfully excited because of our road here," Shaw said. "We kind of took step back and took a day off (Tuesday)."

The Engineers will have to be on the top of their game again when they face No. 23 North Central in the NCAA opener Friday in St. Louis.

"We're up against a tremendous challenge against a quality team, but I think we belong," Shaw said.

That being said, Shaw said his team will not make too many changes as far as tournament preparation is concerned.

"There's no sense changing what you're doing," Shaw said. "I might adjust a little. We're going be who we are and North Central is going to be who they are. We know they're really good, even then we can play well and not win. One team has to win and one has to lose."

Pointers battling adversity

The UW-Stevens Point men have had to deal with an injury to leading scorer Tyler Tillema and coach Bob Semling is saying he's unsure if he'll be back for the Pointers' first game in the NCAA Tournament. Tillema averages 17.3 points per game. The Pointers face Illinois Wesleyan on Friday at Hope College in their first round game.

"We're not scoring as easily as we have when we had Tyler in the lineup," Semling said.

Tillema has missed the last three games due to an injury to his thumb on his shooting hand. The Pointers are 1-2 in his absence.

"Everyone who watches us closely knows he moves so well," Semling said. "He's so good at getting open. You have to guard with man and a half, then he's very good finding his teammates."

Regardless of whether Tillema is in the lineup, the Pointers are thrilled for the opportunity to be in the tournament — their sixth straight appearance.

"When you make the field of 62, it's a great achievement," Semling said. "We've gone into this tournament a very high seed, we've considered a very difficult out, some years havnen't been playing very well. We have found ways to be successful. It's a new season, different opponents, 40 minute game, everybody is putting their best foot forward, everyone wants to advance and survive.

The Pointers will focus on potentially stepping up to fill Tillema's role and being tough defenders.

"We are hoping our defense can be even stronger," Semling said. "We put a lot of effort on being very difficult to score against."

Cal Lutheran runs table to SCIAC title

The Cal Lutheran Regals won two games in the SCIAC tournament and captured their first conference tournament crown after holding off Redlands 61-58. In the semifinal game against regular season conference champion Occidental, Erica Whitley hit a game-winning shot with 1.7 seconds left. Against Redlands, a three-point attempt was errant.

"We had to play well, play tough in big moments," Regals coach Roy Dow said. "It was more about being excited for selection Monday and winning a conference championship. The seniors are very special people."

Now the Regals have another challenge ahead of them as they will travel to face third-ranked and undefeated George Fox on their home court. Dow said the Regals have no choice but to be confident.

"I know if we don't have a high level of confidence it will be extraordinarily difficult to compete with a 27-0 team on their home floor," Dow said.