(First Round Box Score) (Championship Box Score)
Goshen, IN — The Goshen College men’s basketball team ran into a last-second hurdle in looking for its fourth Maple City Hoopfest championship in the event’s five-year history this weekend, allowing an 11-point second-half lead slip away in a 65-62 loss to Aquinas College.
Goshen (3-1, 0-0) defeated Malone College by a 90-80 score in Friday night’s second semi-final contest, but could not get past Aquinas — ranked 22nd in the nation in the NAIA Top 25 Pre-Season Poll — in Saturday’s championship game at the Roman Gingerich Center.
The Saints were fortunate just to be playing in Saturday’s finale, as Aquinas needed a come-from-behind, overtime effort to knock off Cardinal Stritch University in Friday night’s other semi-final contest. Aquinas found itself down by 10 points on two occasions in the second half of that contest, only to survive in a 84-74 decision over the Wolves.
When the smoke cleared, it was Aquinas hoisting the Maple City Hoopfest championship trophy overhead, claiming the title in one of the event’s most competitive fields ever.
“I think it was clear coming into this weekend that we had three very solid teams coming here to play,” said Gary Chupp, Goshen head coach. “I think this weekend’s games only verified that.”
Chupp’s squad reached the 90-point plateau for the third time in as many games in Friday night’s win over Malone, opening with a three-ball from senior Brice Hartman and never trailing. A follow-up trey from sophomore Errick McCollum helped spark a 10-1 Leafs’ run to open play, while a triad of consecutive threes from Hartman, McCollum and sophomore Caleb Kitchell helped turn a 12-10 Goshen lead into a 25-12 advantage midway through the first half.
Malone would cut the lead to just six at halftime — a 47-41 difference — but Goshen would extend the advantage back to 14 points just seven minutes into the second period. The Pioneers eeked back to a six-point deficit with 6:52 on the game clock, but an offensive rebound from McCollum gave Goshen a second life on its ensuing possession. Hartman was able to score in the paint following the re-set, and the Leafs would lead by no fewer than nine points over the game’s final three minutes.
“Friday we had a solid win over a big, experienced Malone team who returned four starters from a year ago,” Chupp said. “We jumped on them early and maintained a double-digit lead for the majority of the game. McCollum and Hartman came up big offensively and I thought that Kitchell gave us outstanding minutes off the bench.”
McCollum led the way with a tournament-high 30 points on seven of 19 shooting, going 13 for 16 at the free throw line while grabbing 11 total rebounds. Hartman added 25 on a brilliant 10 for 13 effort from the field, grabbing seven boards. Kitchell tallied a career-high 13 points on a five for nine effort — including a three for five performance from deep.
Following Aquinas’ impressive rally against Cardinal Stritch in Friday’s second contest — the Saints outscored CSU by a 15 to five difference after forcing the extra stanza — Saturday’s championship game was set. And, like Friday, it was Goshen that took an early lead, claiming a 28-23 advantage with just over two minutes to play in the first half.
Chupp’s squad put on its most impressive stretch following halftime, turning a 28-26 intermission lead into a 41-32 difference just nine and a half minutes into the second period. Eight straight points from McCollum keyed that run, but four straight Aquinas free throws and a pair of three pointers from Aquinas turned that lead into just a 42-39 advantage at the 8:25 mark.
Following a technical issued to Goshen’s bench — and another Saints’ made free throw — it was McCollum that went on a personal run again, knocking in three straight baskets (two from downtown) to turn a 42-40 lead into a 50-40 advantage.
A jumper from Hartman made the score 56-46 with just under four minutes left, and tournament officials began prepping the championship trophy for Goshen.
Only Aquinas wasn’t done.
A three-pointer from the Saints’ James Telman began a three and a half minute stretch in which Aquinas would outscore the Leafs by a 19 to six count. Junior Kyle Laker made one of two free throws to make it a 59-51 Goshen lead with 1:20 to play, while Telman scored on a driving layup on the Saints’ next possession to make the score 59-53.
Following a turnover from sophomore Nate West, Aquinas scored another interior basket, making the score 59-55, Goshen. McCollum was fouled and made one of two on the Leafs’ next trip, only to be outdone by Aquinas’ Jordan Torres’ runner plus a foul on the ensuing possession. Torres’ free throw made it a 60-58 Goshen lead, and all of a sudden the championship game was up for grabs.
The Saints benefited from a huge steal by Torres on their next defensive trip, and Torres advanced the ball to Telman. Going hard to the wing, Telman was greeted by Hartman who stood his ground and made Telman backpedal.
Incredibly, Telman gathered himself and stepped back to shoot what looked to be an ill-advised three pointer.
It was nothing but net, giving Aquinas its first lead of the second half — via a 61-60 score — with under a minute to play.
McCollum was able to draw a foul while scoring a driving basket on the Leafs next trip, but the foul was ruled prior to the shot. His two made free throws regained a 62-61 Leafs’ lead, but it would be Aquinas’ afternoon. Torres drained a closely guarded jumper on the Saints’ next trip, icing the game with two seconds on the clock. A Goshen turnover and forced foul situation provided the game’s final difference, with Aquinas claiming the 65-62 win.
“This was a heart-breaking loss,” Chupp said. “Leading by 10 with under four minutes, it’s awfully tough to lose. I thought we defended most of their shots late fairly well, but they just made some tough ones. You have to give them some credit.”
Aquinas connected on its last seven attempts from the field and final four from the line, making three threes in the game’s final 4:39. After holding the Saints to just a nine of 19 effort from the field in the first half (47.4 percent), Goshen gave up an 11 for 21 second-half clip (52.4 percent), including a six for 11 Saints’ finish from the three-point arc (54.5 percent).
McCollum again topped all scorers with 30 points, going 10 for 12 from the free throw line. Hartman was the Leafs’ only other double-figure scorer, charting 18 points on a seven of 14 shooting effort. West added six points and grabbed a team-leading four rebounds.
Perhaps most notable was Goshen’s dramatic scoring difference, as coming into the contest the Leafs had averaged 90.7 points per game.
“Even with the tough loss, I was encouraged that we didn't play particularly well against a quality opponent and still felt that we should have won,” Chupp said. “We really struggled offensively in the first half and went into halftime with a two point lead. That was a tribute to our solid defensive play. We just need to execute better down the stretch. When a team makes tough shots, you’ve got to find a way to match it. We just couldn’t get it done late.”
Aquinas’ John Lierman took home Maple City Hoopfest Most Valuable Player honors, averaging 19 points in the Saints’ wins. The remainder of the all-tournament team was comprised of McCollum, Hartman, Aquinas’ Pedja Lazic, Malone’s Ben Carver and Cardinal Stritch’s Trey Triplett.
Malone College claimed the consolation game win, defeating Cardinal Stritch by an 81-74 score. Box scores from all games can be viewed by clicking here.
Goshen will return to the Roman Gingerich Center on Tuesday, looking to exact revenge on Davenport University, a team that dealt the Leafs another heartbreaking loss last season (click here for article). Game time is set for 7 p.m.
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Sophomore Errick McCollum