CIU Battles Time Zones, Turbulence, and Fatigue to Soar in Winter Madness
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. —
When the California Intercontinental University Falcons touched down in Fort Lauderdale late Sunday night, the clock had already conspired against them. Weather delays stretched the journey, and a late-night cancellation by Stillwater College reshuffled the script. By sunrise, CIU wasn’t easing into tournament play—they were sprinting headlong into it.
A 9:00 a.m. tipoff followed by a 10:30 a.m. encore on the East Coast clock meant a 6:00 and 7:30 a.m. wake-up call back home in California. Bleary eyes. Heavy legs. And a test of will that no box score could capture.
“I knew our Falcons would be a little weary,” said Head Coach Gamal Smalley, sounding much like a coach who had logged every mile alongside his team. “I was hoping they could pump themselves up.”
They did more than pump themselves up—they found their wings.
The opener against the University of Fort Lauderdale began sluggishly, the Falcons shaking off travel dust and early-morning stiffness. But as the gym filled, music pulsed through the speakers, and the tournament atmosphere came alive, so did CIU.
“I think we started slow versus UFTL,” Smalley said, “but once the music started cranking up and other teams started filing in, the tournament-type atmosphere woke us up and helped us pick up the team spirit.”
Awakened and alert, the Falcons took control. When the game demanded a closer, Noah Smith answered the call, drilling late-game, dagger three-pointers that iced a 71–56 CIU victory. Smith finished with a game-high 19 points, playing the role of executioner when the moment mattered most.
It was, as the scoreboard and stat sheet confirmed, a complete team effort.
Jonathan Hakim worked like a man on a mission in the paint, recording a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. Kaeden Sibrian ignited the Falcons off the bench with 12 crucial points, while Camden Shaw provided relentless, disruptive defense that never shows up in headlines but always shows up in wins.
Then there were the Tiggett twins—Isaiah and Jalen—an energetic force of nature. Blocking shots, ripping down rebounds, and injecting charisma into every possession, the brothers fueled the Falcons with hustle and heart.
Game two of the morning doubleheader required another gear—and Elijah Cirilo found it. The junior guard turned on the jets, slicing through defenses with explosive drives and steady leadership, pacing CIU with 15 points as the Falcons surged to improve to 10–3 on the season.
Freshman guard Lamonte Greene delivered a jolt of electricity off the bench, providing clutch defensive stops and timely offensive spurts. In the trenches, big man Alan Duarte battled for rebounds, while Chase Nelson embodied grit and grind, finishing with 11 points and 11 rebounds and countless hustle plays that tilted momentum CIU’s way.
When the dust finally settled, the Falcons had done more than survive an unforgiving schedule—they had conquered it.
“Our wins were not pretty,” Coach Smalley admitted, “but I’m proud of all of our guys for being resilient and soaking up this experience—traveling across the country and giving it your all.”Now, with the sun higher and confidence soaring, CIU awaits its opponent for Wednesday afternoon’s Winter Madness Mid-Season Tournament Championship. The early alarms have quieted. The turbulence has passed.
And the Falcons—battle-tested, road-hardened, and wide awake—are still flying.
