Dec 10, 2011
MADISON, Wis. - The Edgewood College men's basketball team was so hot in the first half of their game against Benedictine University, they actually broke the cable that attaches the net to the rim on the Edgedome's west end basket. Edgewood College cooled in the second half, but had enough defense and plenty of Ben Wisniewski to hang for an 84-71 victory. Wisniewski scored a career-high 34 points to carry the Eagles to their first 9-0 start since 1976-77.
The first half of the game looked like a scene from The Perfect Storm as shot after shot rained down for Edgewood College (9-0, 4-0 NAC). After opening the game with a modest 14-12 lead, Edgewood College started their assault on the basket. The Eagles made eight of their next nine shots from the field, begun by a Wisniewski three-point basket, to pull out to a 33-21 lead.
Benedictine University got the margin back to single digits shortly thereafter, but two Derek Nkemnji three-pointers, sandwiched around another Wisniewski triple. Pushed the lead back to 45-31. A layup by Kent Faurote then gave Edgewood College their biggest lead of the game at 47-31. Wisniewski finished off the half by scoring the final six points and the Eagles had a 53-40 lead at the break, marking their highest scoring half of the season.
The tide began to turn in the second half. Benedictine University (3-4, 2-2 NAC) got off quickly on a 10-2 run behind the scoring of Jamison Montgomery and Mark Pace. Those two would eventually combine to go 18-for-28 and score 39 of Benedictine's 71 points. Benedictine got as close as one point at 68-67 before two key plays shifted momentum back to Edgewood College.
First Nkemnji found Cashton Craig open on the left wing for a huge three-point basket with four and a half minutes to play. After a pair of Andy Crutchfield free throws for Benedictine University made the score 71-69, Wisniewski was fouled on a three-point attempt. The senior from New Berlin converted all three free throws and the Eagles were in front by five. Three Benedictine turnovers and a layup from Justin Williams put Edgewood College further ahead and forced Benedictine to begin fouling to save clock. Edgewood College made all eight of their free throws in the final two minutes to seal their ninth victory to open the season.
Wisniewski went 10-for-14 from the field, including 5-for-6 at the three-point line to record the first 30-point game by an Edgewood College player since Chris DeMarco scored 30 against MSOE on December 8, 2007. He eclipsed his previous career-high of 29, set during his sophomore season against Marian University.
Faurote scored 14 points to go with a team-high seven rebounds. He has led the Eagles in rebounding in all nine games this season. Craig put up 10 points including a pair of three-point baskets. Nkemnji had nine points and a team-high five assists. After shooting 64.5 percent in the first half, the Eagles cooled, but still shot 53.8 percent for the game. Edgewood College went 11-for-18 (61.1 percent) from the three-point line. The game marked the first time Edgewood College has hit 11 three-pointers in a game since February 14, 2009.
Benedictine was led by Montgomery's 20 points and Pace's 19-point effort. Montgomery also had a game-high six assists. Benedictine finished the night shooting 50.9 percent (29-for-57).
The undefeated Eagles will have a difficult opponent in front of them when they attempt to match the 1976-77 team for the best start in school history at 10-0. Edgewood College will be off for final exam week, but return to campus to host 21st-ranked UW-Stevens Point (6-1) on Sunday, December 18 at 4:00 p.m. The game can be seen in person at the Todd Wehr Edgedome on-line at EdgewoodCollegeEagles.com.
The first half of the game looked like a scene from The Perfect Storm as shot after shot rained down for Edgewood College (9-0, 4-0 NAC). After opening the game with a modest 14-12 lead, Edgewood College started their assault on the basket. The Eagles made eight of their next nine shots from the field, begun by a Wisniewski three-point basket, to pull out to a 33-21 lead.
Benedictine University got the margin back to single digits shortly thereafter, but two Derek Nkemnji three-pointers, sandwiched around another Wisniewski triple. Pushed the lead back to 45-31. A layup by Kent Faurote then gave Edgewood College their biggest lead of the game at 47-31. Wisniewski finished off the half by scoring the final six points and the Eagles had a 53-40 lead at the break, marking their highest scoring half of the season.
The tide began to turn in the second half. Benedictine University (3-4, 2-2 NAC) got off quickly on a 10-2 run behind the scoring of Jamison Montgomery and Mark Pace. Those two would eventually combine to go 18-for-28 and score 39 of Benedictine's 71 points. Benedictine got as close as one point at 68-67 before two key plays shifted momentum back to Edgewood College.
First Nkemnji found Cashton Craig open on the left wing for a huge three-point basket with four and a half minutes to play. After a pair of Andy Crutchfield free throws for Benedictine University made the score 71-69, Wisniewski was fouled on a three-point attempt. The senior from New Berlin converted all three free throws and the Eagles were in front by five. Three Benedictine turnovers and a layup from Justin Williams put Edgewood College further ahead and forced Benedictine to begin fouling to save clock. Edgewood College made all eight of their free throws in the final two minutes to seal their ninth victory to open the season.
Wisniewski went 10-for-14 from the field, including 5-for-6 at the three-point line to record the first 30-point game by an Edgewood College player since Chris DeMarco scored 30 against MSOE on December 8, 2007. He eclipsed his previous career-high of 29, set during his sophomore season against Marian University.
Faurote scored 14 points to go with a team-high seven rebounds. He has led the Eagles in rebounding in all nine games this season. Craig put up 10 points including a pair of three-point baskets. Nkemnji had nine points and a team-high five assists. After shooting 64.5 percent in the first half, the Eagles cooled, but still shot 53.8 percent for the game. Edgewood College went 11-for-18 (61.1 percent) from the three-point line. The game marked the first time Edgewood College has hit 11 three-pointers in a game since February 14, 2009.
Benedictine was led by Montgomery's 20 points and Pace's 19-point effort. Montgomery also had a game-high six assists. Benedictine finished the night shooting 50.9 percent (29-for-57).
The undefeated Eagles will have a difficult opponent in front of them when they attempt to match the 1976-77 team for the best start in school history at 10-0. Edgewood College will be off for final exam week, but return to campus to host 21st-ranked UW-Stevens Point (6-1) on Sunday, December 18 at 4:00 p.m. The game can be seen in person at the Todd Wehr Edgedome on-line at EdgewoodCollegeEagles.com.