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NOV.
29 — Goshen Hands Spring Arbor First Loss
Squad
improves to 2-0 in conference play with gritty 79-74
win on road |
Spring Arbor, MI — In just its second
year as a member of the Mid-Central Conference, the Spring Arbor University
Cougars have initiated what looks to be a pretty good rivalry with the
Goshen College men’s basketball program. The Cougars won two of
the teams’ three meetings in the 2004-2005 season, including knocking
Goshen out of the MCC Tournament. An average of just 2.6 points separated
the teams in those contests, and with Spring Arbor starting the 2005-2006
season at 9-0, Tuesday’s showdown at Dunckel Gymnasium loomed large
for all parties involved.
As with all good rivalries, the game didn’t disappoint.
Goshen (8-2, 2-0) used a solid defensive effort and some timely
shooting to capture the latest chapter, handing Spring Arbor its first
loss of the season by a 79-74 score Tuesday night. A game of runs saw
the Leafs hang on down the stretch, giving fifth-year head coach Stan
Daugherty his first 2-0 start in conference play since arriving to Goshen.
“I really liked how we competed all night long in a tough atmosphere
and against a very good team,” Daugherty said. “All of our
players were enthusiastic and gave us good energy, both on the
floor and on the bench. We always talk about being in a position to win
games on
the road and then you have to make some plays to get a win. I
thought in this game we just made a few more plays than Spring Arbor on
both ends
of the court to finish the game.”
Contrary to its first MCC contest, Goshen began Tuesday’s game with
a surge, collecting a 12-7 lead five minutes in. That solid start was
thwarted by an 18 to six Spring Arbor run that lasted nearly seven minutes,
giving the Cougars a 25-28 lead with 8:24 to play in the period. After
a stern lecture from Daugherty during a timeout, Goshen took heed: The
Leafs ended the half with a 14 to four run to recapture the lead — this
time at 39-32 — though a basket by Spring Arbor’s Micah Lancaster
cut the advantage to 39-34 as the halftime buzzer sounded.
“College basketball is always a game of runs, and our first half
was no exception,” Daugherty said. “I was most pleased with
how our guys responded after we got down a bit. We didn’t panic
or get anxious. That is important, especially on the road in
this conference.”
In the second half, Goshen began to ride the broad shoulders
of senior Eric Walsh, whose six first-half points were not an accurate
indicator of things to come. Walsh opened the second stanza scoring six
of Goshen’s first eight points, helping the Leafs take a 47-39 advantage
just three minutes in. Again, Spring Arbor responded with a run, rattling
off a 14 to four spurt that recaptured the Cougars’ advantage — a
53-51 lead with just under 12 minutes to play.
That lead would bulge to three points following a bizarre technical
foul on Leafs’ senior Jordan Buller, but it was at that point that
the momentum began to change permanently. Back to back baskets from Walsh
gave Goshen a 59-56 lead, and another pair of Walsh hoops — coupled
with a three-pointer from sophomore Brice Hartman — gave the Leafs
a 69-62 advantage with 4:06 to play. Though pressed, it was a lead Goshen
would not relinquish.
Spring Arbor’s best chance to come back came with a minute and a
half remaining in the game, when the Cougars’ Mike Folkert buried
a three to cut Goshen’s lead to 70-67. With an impressive student-body
crowd growing to a feverous pitch, the Leafs David Haire (junior) came
up with the biggest play: With the shot clock winding down and Buller
in trouble, Haire raced to the top of the key and fired a bobbling, partially
deflected three-point attempt.
It settled calmly in the net to reclaim a six-point Goshen advantage.
Spring Arbor cut the lead to four on two occasions in the game’s
waning moments, but made free throws down the stretch iced the outcome
for Daugherty’s team.
Walsh, who was named the MCC’s Player of the Week for his efforts
in Goshen’s first conference affair (click here for
article), was again All-American-esque, scoring 21 second-half points
for a total 27
to go with a season-high 16 rebounds. Hartman wasn’t far behind,
scoring 16 points on seven of 12 shooting and grabbing seven
boards. Senior Tyler Sheerer added 11 while Buller scored nine. Sophomore
Tyler Stotler
chipped in six points and two rebounds in 10 minutes of work.
“We shared the ball well and hit the open man on most occasions
tonight,” Daugherty said. “Brice Hartman had one of his most
aggressive games and David Haire played very solidly on both
ends of the court. Tyler Sheerer hit some big three point shots throughout
the game
at key points. It was obviously a big win for us because road
games in the MCC are always tough. We’ll take it and look to continue
to improve.”
Daugherty and friends are still awaiting MRI results on junior
and starting power forward Willie Frazier’s left knee, as Frazier
has now missed the Leafs’ last three contests. Pending those results,
Frazier will either undergo appropriate medical procedures or begin rehab.
Check back to this site for the most updated information.
The Leafs stay on the road for their next MCC slate, heading
south to Indianapolis on Saturday to square off with Marian College. Game
time is set for 3 p.m. |
Sophomore
Brice Hartman
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