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12.30.04 -
In a match-up between two NAIA
heavyweights, it only seems fitting that it would require two extra
periods to determine a winner. The NAIA Division II 7th-ranked
Huntington College Foresters (12-5) outlasted 3rd-ranked
Cedarville University (13-3) to earn the 84-81 upset in a double
overtime thriller. Huntington built a 12-point lead with just
under five minutes left in the first half and headed to the locker
room with a 38-28 lead. The Yellow Jackets stepped up their
defense in the second half and held the Foresters to just 25 points.
Cedarville had its biggest lead of the half at 57-51 with 5:22 to play
and were up 63-60 with 1:46 after a Ryan Short free throw. On
Huntington’s next possession, Adam Bontreger was left open at the
top and knocked down his only field goal of the game, a 3-pointer to
knot the score at 63-63. Both defenses held over the final 1:46
to send the game to its first extra period. Two minutes into the
first overtime, Huntington’s Jared Yoder hit a layup to give the
Foresters a six-point cushion, but again the Yellow Jacket defense
responded, holding Huntington scoreless for the final three minutes of
the period. An old-fashion 3-point play by Cedarville’s Jason
Weakley with :26 showing on the clock gave the Yellow Jackets new life
by tying the score at 71-71. Alex Kock’s shot at the buzzer
fell short forcing the game to a second overtime. Huntington
again took the early lead. Steve Snider hit two free throws to
give the Foresters a 77-72 advantage with just under three minutes to
play. Cedarville responded with a 6-1 run to tie it at 78 all
with a minute to play. After using most of the shot clock on the
next possession, Huntington’s Yoder missed a jumper just inside the
lane, but teammate Doug Sheckler came up with a big offensive rebound
that led to a Kock baseline jumper and an 80-78 lead for the
Foresters. Kock was then fouled going for a defensive rebound
after a Cedarville miss. Kock drained both free throws to put
Huntington up four with :17 left in the game. The Yellow Jackets
pushed the ball up the floor and Guy Rathmell immediately knocked down
a trey to cut it to 82-81. Cedarville again sent Kock to the
line and he calmly sank both to put the Foresters up 84-81. A
last second 3-point attempt by Cedarville’s Short missed everything.
Kock finished the game with a game-high 35 points. He went 12-22
from the floor and 10-13 from the line. Yoder and Sheckler each
added 14. Thomas Mugabe led three Yelllow Jackets in double
figures with 21 and a game-high 17 rebounds. The Foresters will
be back in action at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 4, when they travel
to Marian College to resume conference play.
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