NIT Championship Game Set: South Carolina will have an opportunity to defend its NIT title against Michigan Thursday. The Gamecocks clearly looked like the best team on the court against Louisville, cruising to a 78-63 victory. Renaldo Balkman led South Carolina with 23 points, and Tarence Kinsey contributed 21 points. Despite Louisville’s patented defensive pressure, South Carolina turned the ball over only seven times. Last season, the Gamecocks beat Saint Joseph’s in the NIT championship.
The Wolverines reached the title game by beating Old Dominion 66-43. Michigan’s defense dominated the Monarchs, who shot only 28 percent from the field. Courtney Sims led the Wolverines with 18 points. Michigan used a 19-3 run at the end of the first half to erase a seven-point deficit and take command of the game. Old Dominion junior forward Arnaud Dahi injured his knee late in the first half, and coach Blaine Tayler said it could be a torn ACL. [3/29/06]
