CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR MARCH 3, 2005
MEN'S BASKETBALL
(Story written by Abby Zylstra with reporting by Albion Assistant SID Ross
Weener and Calvin SID Jeff Febus)
WHEATON, IL - A put back with 2.5 seconds left from senior Dan Aultman lifted
14th-ranked Calvin to a stunning 75-74 first round NCAA III Tournament victory
at 11th-ranked Wheaton College Thursday night at Wheaton's King Arena. The
victory is Calvin's first-ever at Wheaton's King Arena and as well as its
first NCAA III Tournament victory since 2001. Calvin advances to the second
round of the NCAA III Tournament where it will travel to Aurora University (IL)
Saturday night in a game scheduled to begin at 8:00 p.m (EST). Saturday's
game will mark the first-ever meeting between Calvin and Aurora (24-4) in NCAA
III Tournament play.
Calvin jumped to an 8-0 lead early in the first half receiving four points
from
Aultman. The storm began to cease with about 13:37 left in
the first half, when Wheaton began what would turn into a 17-4 run,
with 10 points from senior forward Jonathan Steven. With just over eight
minutes left in the
half, Wheaton took its first lead of the game, 18-16, off a
three-pointer from Steven. Calvin came back and tied the game at 23
off a three-pointer from junior forward Andy Draayer. With five minutes left
in the half, Wheaton had a 8-0 run to go up eight points,
23-31. Calvin came back within four points of the Thunder off a pair
of free throws by junior Joel Hoekstra, 31-35 with just under one
minute left in the half. The Thunder (20-6) responded with back-to-back
three-pointers from Steven and freshman Kent Raymond however, to take a 41-31
halftime lead.
Calvin started the second half with a 9-3 run to creep to within three at
44-41. With 13:26 left in the half, the Thunder were back up by nine again.
The Knights rallied back with a 12-0 run, which included two three-pointers
from senior Brad Sall, to take back the lead at 55-54 with 10 minutes left.
Wheaton took a five point lead with five minutes remaining off a Steven
three-pointer from 23 feet. Senior Ricky Shilts tied up the game, and then
Raymond hit a three-pointer to put the Thunder up by 3. Shilts hit a layup
with 1:30 left in the game to put the Knights one point behind Wheaton. Steven
followed with a field goal but sophomore Josh Meckes cut the lead back to one
with 57 seconds to go on a hoop inside at 74-73. Wheaton would then misfire on
a three-pointer and lost the ball on a loose-ball scramble as the Thunder were
called for a kicked ball violation with 29.5 seconds left allowing Calvin to
play for a final shot.
On the final possession, Hoekstra took a shot in the lane that rimmed out with
six seconds remaining but Aultman was able to wiggle inside, corral the rebound
and hit a six-foot floater with 2.5 seconds remaining in the game to put the
Knights up by one point, 75-74.
Wheaton threw in a long pass down court, and it was intercepted by
Meckes, allowing the Kngihts to pull out the victory.
"I was in the middle of the lane and call it dumb luck, but I was just there
for the rebound and you know the rest of the story," said Aultman.
Hoekstra and Aultman would lead the Knights in scoring with Hoekstra scoring
20 points and Aultman 16. "My teammates put the ball in my hands and got it to
me in great position," said Hoekstra who scored 10 points in each half. "It
might be me that showed up in the scoring column tonight but everyone else on
our team deserves a lot of credit for making this victory possible."
Despite trailing by 10 points at halftime, Calvin head coach Kevin Vande
Streek was confident that the Knights had the ability to mount a comeback. "10
points in a college basketball game is nothing," said Vande Streek. "This was
a game of fast-paced runs and we like to play up-tempo. I knew if we could
string a few shots together, that we could get right back in it."
Hoekstra and Aultman were part of four Calvin players that notched
double-digits in scoring as Shilts had 11 and Sall 10 points. Meckes led the
Knights on the boards with 11 rebounds. The Saginaw Valley Lutheran High
School native also got a hand on the loose ball of Hoekstra's miss in the
closing seconds that deflected into the hands of Aultman.
Calvin also received eight points off the bench from Draayer including a pair
of three-pointers that brought his season total to 90 and allowed him to break
the Calvin single-season record for three-pointers of 88 originally established
by Todd Hennink during the 1989-90 season.
For the Thunder, Steven scored 27 points, and Raymond scored 24 points.
Steven was nine of 16 from the floor including four of six from three-point
range while Raymond was eight of 11 from the field including five of eight from
beyond the arc. Wheaton would connected on 12 of 19 attempts from three-point
range for a sizzling 63.2 percent three-point clip.
Wheaton shot 53.3 percent overall (24 of 45) but just 44 percent in the second
half. Calvin would shoot 46.9 percent overall including 50 percent in the
second half. Calvin would also hold a 32-30 rebounding edge including a 21-13
advantage in the second half. Wheaton would also commit 20 turnovers in the
game which led to 20 points for the Knights.
Calvin will now turn its attention to Aurora, a team that Calvin last faced in
2001 in the championship game of the Calvin Tip-Off Tourmament.
"Aurora is a very athletic team," said Vande Streek. "One thing that we will
have to our advantage is having played several different styles of teams this
year, particularly in the MIAA. We've faced athletic teams before this year
so that should help us in our game preparation."
Thursday's meeting between Calvin and Wheaton was the 46th meeting between
the two non-conference rivals including the first in NCAA III Tournament play.
Wheaton still leads the all-time series 24-22. Calvin is making its 15th
appearance in the NCAA III Tournament. The Knights are now 24-15 in NCAA III
Tournament play.
ICE HOCKEY
Calvin rebounded from a disappointing 5-4 shootout defeat to Penn State
University Delaware County with a 14-4 victory over the University of Richmond
in a loser's bracket Thursday morning at the ACHA Division III National
Tournament.
Calvin received hat trick performances from senior Aaron Okkema and junior
Nick VerKuyl while senior Jason Koole, junior Max Sieplinga and sophomore Nick
VanSchepen had two goals apiece. Calvin also received single goals from junior
Nate Heuker and sophomore Craig Baker.
Calvin held a 49-24 shots at goal advantage.
The Knights (25-4) are scheduled to return to action on Friday when they face
Florida Atlantic University at 4:30 p.m.
Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Thu Mar 3 23:11:45 2005
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