MARION, IN - Number five seed, Spring Arbor University (18-14)
gave number one seed Indiana Wesleyan (26-6) all they could handle as the
Wildcats squeaked by the Cougars 76-72 to end Spring Arbors MCC Tournament run.
Senior, DJ Baisden led all scorers with 25 points on 10 of
18 shooting from the field. Fellow
Senior Willie Pickvet also turned in a solid performance with 19 points and
eight rebounds and two blocks.
IWU led by as many as 9 points in the first half but Spring
Arbor was able to trim the Wilcat's lead to just 5 points (34-29) at the break.
For much of the second stanza, the breaks did not go to the
Cougars advantage as Indiana Wesleyan built a substantial 12 point lead (60-48)
with 9:12 to go in the game. But over
the next five minutes, Baisden and Pickvet would cut the Wildcat lead to six
points (68-62) with Baisden scoring eight points and Pickvet netting six.
With 2:28 left on the clock, Pickvet made a basket to cut
the lead to two points (68-66) to silence the Wildcat crowd and on IWU's next
possession, Wildcat's big man Patrick Hopkins received a pass down low and made
a turn towards the basket as DJ Baisden made what looked like a clean steal for
a break-away and the tie but was called for a foul. Hopkins made both ends of the one-and-one and
IWU's lead was back to four.
It took ten seconds for Baisden to make amends and hit a big
3-point bucket to cut the lead to one point, 70-69 but Hopkins made a layup to
lift IWU lead to three points with 1:59 to go.
An SAU turn-over and a foul gave Indiana Wesleyan the
opportunity at the line and IWU could make one of two for a four point lead
(73-69)
It was then Chris Bellamy's turn to cut into IWU's lead with
a layup and an old-fashioned 3-point play as he got fouled on the play and he
made good on the opportunity and the lead was just one (73-72) once again, this
time with 1:14 to go.
IWU's Hopkins was fouled by Matt Howe and would make one of
two chances at the free throw line for a two point IWU lead (74-72) and give
Hopkins a team leading 22 points for the game.
Spring Arbor would be unable to score and two more free
throws by Indiana Wesleyan would give the Wildcats the final winning margin of
four points.
So, once again, Spring Arbor finds itself in a wait and see
situation to find out if they will receive an at-large bid into the NAIA Div II
National Tournament or play in the NCCAA Regional Tournament.
Stay Tuned!
