DECEMBER 16, 2000
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Calvin used one of its best starts of the year to propel itself to an
85-57 victory at Aquinas Saturday afternoon, allowing the Knights to
improve to 8-1 on the year.
Calvin outscored the Saints 29-8 in the opening 11 minutes to build a
double-digit lead it would never relinquish. Calvin led 40-23 at
halftime behind 14 first half points from sophomore Jeremy Veenstra
(Kalamazoo Christian). Veenstra brought a large crowd of Calvin fans to
its feet with an emphatic baseline slam with 4:33 left in the half that
gave the Knights a 31-14 lead.
Aquinas crept to within 13 points at 41-28 in the opening minutes of the
second half but would get no closer as the Knights maintained their
double-digit lead and then used a 17-5 run over the final 4:23 of
regulation to provide the final margin of victory.
Veenstra was one of five Calvin players to notch double-figures in
scoring as senior Nate Burgess (South Christian) popped in a season-high
15 points along with a career-high eight rebounds while sophomore Bryan
Foltice (Tri-unity Christian) had 14 points, freshman Chris Prins
(Escondido, CA) 12 points and senior Brian Krosschell (Grand Rapids
Christian) 11 points. Veenstra finished with 14 points and also tallied
seven rebounds and a game-high five assists. In addition, senior Josh
Tubergen (Holland Christian) had nine points and nine rebounds, matching
a career rebounding high.
Calvin controlled the glass as the Knights outrebounded the Saints 50-28
with Krosschell also grabbing seven boards, senior Derek Kleinhksel
(Hamilton) six boards and Foltice five rebounds.
Aquinas (4-7) was led in scoring by Derek Weaver who came up with 11
points while Andy Steketee added 10.
Calvin finished with a season-high 56.9 percent field goal clip,
connecting on 33-of-58 attempts from the floor while Aquinas shot just
33.8 percent (22-of-65) including just 29.0 percent in the first half.
Calvin again struggled at the free throw line, converting just 15-of-26
attempts at the stripe for a 57.7 percent clip. The Knights still
maintained a healthy free throw advantage against the Saints as Aquinas
was seven of 13 (53.8 percent) at the line.
The victory was Calvin's second of the year against Aquinas and its
seventh in the last eight tries. It was also Calvin's second victory of
the year against Aquinas as Calvin had defeated the Saints 97-66 in a
first round game of the Old Kent Classic November 24.
Ranked number-three in the latest D3hoops.com Top-25 poll, Calvin will
now break until December 29 when it faces eight-ranked Chicago in a
first round game of the Mose Hole Classic hosted by second-ranked
Wooster of Ohio. The Calvin-Chicago game is set to tip off at 5:30 pm
(EST) with Wooster set to face Case Western Reserve at 7:30 pm in the
other first round game. The championship game is scheduled for December
30 at 7:30 pm preceeded by the consolation game at 5:30.
-end-
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