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02.27.07
- Led by a 6 for 7
performance behind the arc from Doug Sheckler, the NAIA 4th-ranked
Huntington University Foresters (29-4) successfully defended its
Mid-Central Conference Tournament title from a year ago downing 9th-ranked
Indiana Wesleyan University (28-4) 93-83. Sheckler, who was 8 of 35
from three-point land during the season, nearly matched his output
with his six treys in the contest. He topped five Foresters in
double figures with his 26 points.
Indiana Wesleyan
entered the game looking to avenge two regular season losses and began
play like a team with a chip on its shoulder. The Wildcats knocked
down seven of its first eight shots to immediately put the heat on
Huntington. The Foresters, who are no strangers to the pressure of
big games, matched them blow for blow over the first six minutes.
After an Alex Kock jumper brought Huntington within 16-15 at the 14:15
mark, Indiana Wesleyan put a 10-0 run on the Foresters and looked to
have the defending champs on the ropes with a 26-15 lead.
But it was going to take more than that to put Huntington down for the
count. The Foresters came back with a 12-0 run capped by a Kyle Benge
lay-up to regain the lead at 27-26. The teams then resumed trading
baskets over the final 7:10 and a Kock jumper with 48 ticks left gave
Huntington a 41-39 lead at intermission.
Things continued much the same for the first 11 minutes of the second
half. Huntington was still clinging to a one-point lead at 67-66 when
Sheckler hit his fifth trey of the game to put the Foresters up four.
After a couple empty possessions for both squads, Huntington came up
with two offensive rebounds before Kyle Ganton was finally able to
bury a three to push the advantage to seven. The Wildcats missed on
their next possession and at the other end Sheckler drained number six
and was fouled on the shot. Although he missed the free throw, he
gave the Foresters their first double digit lead of the game at 76-66
with just over six minutes to play.
A
three-pointer from Jon Moon brought Indiana Wesleyan back within five
at the 3:25 mark, but Jared Yoder answered with an “excuse me” three
off the glass and Ganton made it an 11-point margin with his fourth
bomb of the night with under two minutes to go. Ganton and Kock then
went 5-6 from the charity stripe down the stretch to seal the win.
Joining Sheckler in double figures for Huntington was Kock with 22,
Ganton with 20 and Yoder and Benge both with 10. Indiana Wesleyan’s
Antonio Murrell topped all scorers in the game with 31 points.
DeJovan Sawyer-Davis added 18 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Jon
Moon finished with 16 points and Zach Coverstone chipped in 11.
The Foresters sizzled the nets at 58% (35-60) for the game, including
68% from behind the arc (13-19) while Indiana Wesleyan went 34-70 from
the field for 49%. The Wildcats edged Huntington on the boards 33-32.
The Foresters will next compete at the NAIA National Tournament to be
held in Branson, Missouri on March 7-13. They must await word on
pairings to determine their first round match-up.
Box Score
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