ST. GEORGE — Six days ago, Snow College and Salt Lake Community College staged an epic battle in men's basketball, with the Bruins eventually coming away the victor.
Thursday night the encore was even better.
Third-seeded Snow edged Salt Lake 89-85 in double-overtime to earn the Badgers a berth in the Region 18 tournament semifinals.
"It's a match-up thing," Snow head coach Jon Judkins said. "Our two teams are very similar and match up very well. Thank goodness we have Jackson Vroman on our team."
Vroman, a 6-foot-10 sophomore from Bountiful, hit big shot after big shot in racking up 30 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. The big center played much of the second half and both overtimes with four fouls.
"He has come so far in three years," Judkins said. "Nobody even recruited him out of high school. Nobody wanted him. But he has worked so hard, especially last summer, and has turned into one of the best big men in the country."
Salt Lake led by five at the half and built the lead to eight points before the Badgers came roaring back to take a two point lead late in the game.
A missed Snow free throw allowed the Bruins to tie it with a 3-pointer at the end of regulation and force OT. Both teams scored six points in the first extra period. The Badgers hit their freebies in the second OT to ice the game.
"We certainly had our chances," Salt Lake head coach Norm Parrish said. "We would like to have been one of the top three seeds, but all things considered, we were happy to be playing Snow in the first round, especially since we beat them last week."
Aaron Bond added 16 points and 14 boards for the Badgers (25-7), who play Southern Idaho in the Friday afternoon semifinal.
Salt Lake, which finishes the season 19-13, was led by Jeff Blackett, who had 24 points and seven rebounds.
The other quarterfinal games:
DIXIE STATE 80, NORTHERN IDAHO 63: The top-seeded Rebels trailed by four at the half and were down 40-33 with 17 minutes left in the game before going on a 13-1 run.
Sophomore Al Williams had eight straight points during the streak, and point guard Kevin Woodberry capped the run with a 3-pointer.
Dixie State, 29-3 and ranked fourth in the nation, struggled mightily with the Cardinals' 2-3 zone. Williams' slashing style — good for 15 points and eight rebounds — and Woodberry's sharp-shooting (four 3-pointers) broke down the zone in the second half and sent the Rebels to the semis.
DSC plays fifth-seeded Eastern Utah at 8 p.m. tonight.
EASTERN UTAH 71, UTAH VALLEY STATE 69: The Golden Eagles led by 21 at the half and by as many as 26 before a ferocious Wolverines comeback fell just short.
Skyler Wilson and Patrick Stinnett each had 18 as CEU (21-11) advanced despite being outscored 52-33 in the second half.
Nick DeWitz had 20 to lead Utah Valley, which finishes the year 21-11. Notably missing in the second half was UVSC center Seth Scott, who apparently was dismissed from the team after a dispute at halftime. Scott was seen leaving Burns Arena in street clothes before the game's completion.
SOUTHERN IDAHO 96, RICKS 58: The last men's basketball game ever for Ricks College was a forgettable one, as the Golden Eagles jumped on Ricks from the get-go.
Tim Ellis led four Southern Idaho players in double figures with 24 points. Tony Bobbitt added 20 points and six assists as the 27-5 Eagles advanced to the semifinals.
Ricks finishes 16-15 in the final season for Clyde Nelson's Vikings. Ricks College has changed to Brigham Young-Idaho, eliminating all intercollegiate athletics following the conclusion of the 2001-2002 seasons.
Friday at Dixie College
Women's semifinals
No. 6 Snow vs. No. 2 Ricks, noon
No. 5 So. Idaho vs. No. 1 Dixie State, 6 p.m.
Men's semifinals
No. 3 Snow vs. No. 2 So. Idaho, 2 p.m.
No. 5 Eastern Utah vs. No. 1 Dixie State, 8 p.m.