(Chris Mantis via the NCAA Academy)

 

Sectional 1 foes Crown Point and Lowell faced each other to finish the 2020-2021 regular season. Both teams received byes in next week's sectional. In Friday night's game, Appalachian State signee Chris Mantis took over the second half to propel Lowell to the 68-65 win.

 

The game's tempo and offensive execution were outstanding to begin the game. In a blink, Crown Point took an 11-7 lead. The early Crown Point success was powered by David Brown. The senior forward scored eight points in the first four and a half minutes. Seconds after Brown scored his eighth point, Drew Adzia connected on his second three-pointer. On the next possession, Crown Point's lead stretched to 18-10 as Jake Oostman scored inside. Everything was clicking for the Bulldogs. 

 

The Crown Point run was ended with Cayden Vasko's three. The Lowell senior made his first three three-pointers to keep the Red Devils in the game. Adam Richardson scored late in the first quarter to cut Crown Point's lead to 20-19.

 

To open the second period, Oostman scored in the paint on Crown Point's first possession. That set the tone for the period. The senior scored eight points in the frame as he took advantage of Lowell's lack of size. 

 

Lowell faced adversity when Mantis was whistled for his third foul with three minutes left in the half. After he went to the bench, Crown Point scored six consecutive points to take a 30-23 lead. Tyson Chavez's and-one layup followed by Hunter Polak's bucket stemmed the tide for Lowell. 

 

At the half, Mantis had six points and three fouls, but Lowell only trailed by two. After Brown opened the second half with a Crown Point triple, it was time for The Chris Mantis Show. He scored on the right baseline and was fouled. On the next possession, Mantis drilled a three-pointer. He followed that with a jumper then a layup. Mantis capped off his personal run with another three-pointer. In five Lowell possessions, Mantis scored 12 points, and suddenly, Lowell led 40-35. After a teammate missed a shot on the sixth possession, Mantis scored again. He tallied all 14 of Lowell's third-quarter points. 

 

Late in the third period, Lowell's lead reached seven points. After a quiet first half, sophomore AJ Lux found a rhythm for Crown Point. His three-pointer with two minutes left in the third broke Crown Point out of its funk. 

 

In the fourth, Crown Point found itself in a similar predicament. Mantis score to give Lowell a 47-40 advantage. Lux answered with a three. On the ensuing Crown Point possession, Lux found another triple. Crown Point was back in it. 

 

In the final 5:47, Lowell was in the bonus and lived at the free-throw line. The Red Devils took full advantage. Down the stretch, Lowell went 17-18 from the free-throw line. Adzia, Lux, and Oostman made plays for Crown Point, but there was no room for error with Lowell making all of its free throws. 

 

When the buzzer sounded, Mantis scored 27 second-half points to lead Lowell to the 68-65 victory. For the game, Mantis recorded 33 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Vasko added 14 points and five rebounds; Chavez scored seven points, and Polak recorded six points and six rebounds. Adam Richardson also had six points. Cameron Stojancevich tallied two points and three assists.

 

Adzia led Crown Point with 17 points and four assists; Oostman added 16 points and five rebounds; Lux finished with 14 points and five rebounds; Brown scored 11, and Ty Smith contributed seven points and seven assists.