CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR SATURDAY, FEB. 24
MEN'S BASKETBALL
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- For the second straight year and for the 13th time
in school history, the Calvin men's basketball team is headed back to
the NCAA III Tournament.
The defending NCAA III national champions earned an automatic bid to
the NCAA III Tournament with a 77-63 victory over Adrian in the MIAA
Tournament Championship game Saturday at the Calvin Fieldhouse.
First round play of the NCAA III Tournament begins next Thursday night.
Calvin will receive word of its site and opponent when the NCAA
announces its 48-team field Sunday night at 9:00 pm (EST).
Calvin's MIAA Tournament Championship Saturday night is the fifth MIAA
Tournament title in Calvin history.
Adrian (14-13) kept pace with Calvin for nearly 30 minutes but a 7-0
spurt midway through the second half allowed the Knights to build a
13-point lead. Adrian would never get closer than nine points the rest
of the way.
Calvin was able to slow down Adrian's torrid three-point shooting
attack as the Bulldogs were just 8-of-26 (.308) from behind the arc. In
its previous two MIAA tournament games, Adrian had connected on a
sizzling 54.9 percent (28-of-51) of its three-point attempts including a
15-for-30 performance in a 94-88 overtime win over Hope Friday night.
Calvin led 37-34 at halftime with sophomore Jeremy Veenstra (Kalamazoo
Christian) and senior Josh Tubergen (Holland Christian) combining for 21
of Calvin's first half points. Sophomore Steve Brooks was the catalyst
for Adrian in the first half as he pumped in 15 points on 6-of-11
shooting including 3-of-6 from three-point range.
The Knights were able to build a 55-49 lead on a three-point play by
Tubergen with 12:31 left to play. Neither team scored over the next
two minutes until Veenstra stepped up and powered in a two-handed slam
on the bseline while drawing a foul. Veenstra converted the free throw
to put the Knights up 58-49. Sophomore Bryan Foltice (Tri-unity
Christian) then scored on a driving layup and freshman Phil Visser
(Unity Christian) followed with a pair of free throws that gave Calvin a
62-49 lead.
Calvin converted 12 out of 15 free throw attempts inside the final five
minutes to seal the win.
"I'm really proud of this team," said Calvin men's basketball coach
Kevin Vande Streek. "This is a totally different team than last year.
They've had to build their own identity which they have done in a
positive fashion. Winning the MIAA title and the league tournament is a
big accomplishment.'
"This team has gotten better as the season has gone along and I think
it can still get better," continued Vande Streek. "We're looking
forward to the NCAA III Tournament. We'd love to have a chance to play
a game at home."
Calvin was led Saturday night by Veenstra who finished with 20 points
and 10 rebounds for his 13th career double-double. Tubergen was next
with 13 points while Foltice had 11 and freshman Chris Prins (Escondido,
CA) 10. Senior Nate Burgess (South Christian) was also superb for the
Knights as he collected nine points, eight rebounds and four assists.
Adrian was led by Brooks who finished with 23 points while sophomore
Dan Walter had 14.
Calvin outrebounded Adrian 40-28 and held a considerable edge at the
free throw line as the Knights were 27-of-36 (750) at the line while
Adrian was 9-of-14 (.643) at the charity stripe. Calvin shot 50 percent
(23-of-46) overall while holding Adrian to 35.4 percent (23-of-65) field
goal shooting.
Calvin will carry a seven-game win streak into next week's NCAA III
Tournament. With its 14-13 finish, Adrian finished with its first
winning season since its 1987-88 campaign.
-end-
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Sat Feb 24 2001 - 23:01:25 EST