Cardinals Cruise to Tournament Win

(Post sponsored by Tinsley Title, Holt Wrecker, R&R lawn specialists, Gibson Pharmacy.)

By Benny Rogers/TVCC Sports Information
Photos by Chuck Merickel

Now things get good in Hutch.

Though, you could say, from a Cardinal perspective, things were very good Tuesday.

Playing their first game in will over a week, the seventh-seeded Cardinals put on a show in their 2025 NJCAA D1 MBB Tournament opener, rolling to a 92-60 blowout of No. 23-seeded Trinidad State at Hutchinson Sports Arena.

As a result, the Cardinals (31-3) advance to the quarterfinals today against Cowley at 2:30 p.m. Cowley (30-4) is the highest remaining seed at No. 2.

The 24-team tournament is down to eight teams, four of which are from Texas (South Plans, Panola, Angelina and the Cardinals) – three, of course, of them being from Region XIV.

The TVCC-Cowley winner moves on to face the Vincennes-Panola winner in the semifinals at 8 p.m. Thursday. The championship game is set for 1 p.m. Saturday.

The Cardinals were in complete control against Trinidad State, which closed the year 19-15. They led 43-28 at halftime and never looked back.

Tyler Smith led the Cardinals with 16 points, hitting 6-of-10 shots from the floor. He had two three-pointers and handed out five assists.

Zati Loubaki netted 15 points and Garrett Nuckolls 14, including a pair of treys.

Cameron Williams, who had nine points, and Loubaki led the Cardinals with seven rebounds each. Camarion Johnson and Smith had five each.

The Cardinals hit seven three-pointers, holding Trinidad State to two.

The Cardinals outrebounded Trinidad State, 44-31.