Facebook Instagram Twitter Youtube
  • News
    • Campus
    • Local
    • World
  • Arts and Entertainment
    • Performing Arts
    • Visual Arts
    • Music
    • Film
    • Fashion
  • Lifestyle
    • Campus Happenings
    • Community Happenings
    • Food
    • Business
    • Travel
    • Calendar
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Video
    • Globe News
    • What’s Bruin
    • Bruin Lens
    • Film
    • Music
    • Globe Shorts
  • Radio
Search
49.7 F
Salt Lake City
Saturday, October 4, 2025
  • Newsletter Signup
  • Contests
  • About The Globe
    • Staff
    • Jobs
    • Issue PDFs
Facebook Instagram Twitter Youtube
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy Policy
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
The Globe The Globe
The Globe The Globe
  • News
    • Campus
    • Local
    • World
  • Arts and Entertainment
    • Performing Arts
    • Visual Arts
    • Music
    • Film
    • Fashion
  • Lifestyle
    • Campus Happenings
    • Community Happenings
    • Food
    • Business
    • Travel
    • Calendar
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Video
    • Globe News
    • What’s Bruin
    • Bruin Lens
    • Film
    • Music
    • Globe Shorts
  • Radio
Home News Campus NJCAA champions share postgame reactions
  • News
  • Campus
  • Don't Miss
  • Sports

NJCAA champions share postgame reactions

By
Brittni Colindres
-
March 21, 2016
0
Paul Marble
SLCC assistant coach Paul Marble cuts the net after the men’s basketball team defeated Hutchinson 74-64 to win the NJCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. (Bob Hunter, NJCAA)

The Salt Lake Community College men’s basketball team cut down the nets as national champions for the second time in school history on Saturday.

The Bruins, who entered the tournament as a No. 13 seed, defeated the No. 7 seed Hutchinson Blue Dragons on their home court 74-64 to win the NJCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship.

This was SLCC’s first national title with Head Coach Todd Phillips at the helm. He was presented with the Coach of the Year Award.

Round-by-round recaps
First round
Second round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals

“It’s a little surreal feeling right now,” Phillips says. “Every day after a win you are back to preparing for the next game, being up ’til two in the morning with your assistants. It’s finally starting to sink in.

“I’m so excited for the kids and so grateful for the assistants who have sacrificed their time and have put so much effort into this team.”

Tournament MVP Conner Toolson paved the way for his team, scoring a game-high of 28 points on 11-of-20 shooting. Sophomore forward Tyler Rawson, who ended his career as a Bruin, posted a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Rawson says the reason Salt Lake could make their run was “all the guys coming together, fulfilling the role our coach gave us, and executing it the best we could. After the region tournament, our confidence grew and it was like a lightbulb went off and we knew how deadly we would be going to nationals.”

Todd Phillips
Todd Phillips receives both the NJCAA Coach of the Year and Coach of the Tournament awards after SLCC won the Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. (Bob Hunter, NJCAA)

Phillips credits the players for maintaining their focus.

“It was a long road, with five game in six days, but the boys were able to sustain their effort, sustain their defense and intensity and were able keep a consistent effort throughout the tournament,” Phillips says.

The championship caps an incredible journey for the Bruin basketball team.

“I will always remember this SLCC team for the rest of my life,” Toolson says. “It’s been such a great season.”

Players hoist trophy
SLCC celebrates with the NJCAA trophy after defeating Hutchinson 74-64 in the Division I Men’s Basketball championship game on Saturday, March 12. (Bob Hunter, NJCAA)

Follow @Britt_Colindres

  • TAGS
  • Bruin Athletics
  • Conner Toolson
  • Men's Basketball
  • NJCAA
  • Salt Lake Community College
  • Todd Phillips
  • Tyler Rawson
Brittni Colindres

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

Juan playing piano as choir students sing a song

SLCC Choir tunes up for a busy season

Franco Aloia cooking with a student

Cooking up community: A look inside SLCC Culinary Arts

Closeup of a definition of media printed in black text

SLCC media professors speak on how AI has changed the field

Group photo of Constitution Day event staff and attendees

An epic day of democracy and debate

Woman reading a script while sitting at a cluttered desk

Tips and resources for managing semester stress

The Globe
ABOUT US
About The Globe
Staff
Jobs
Issue PDFs
FOLLOW US
Facebook Instagram Twitter Youtube
  • About The Globe
  • Staff
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
© 2025 The Globe