Feb 25, 2012
Kent Faurote couldn't wait to get his hands on the net. With his teammates still congratulating themselves on a Northern Athletics Conference championship and an NCAA Tournament berth, the senior stood on the ladder considering ignoring the protocol of starting with the younger players and getting the first piece himself. Finally, as he did in the game, Faurote rallied the rest of the Eagles to the task. Edgewood College defeated Lakeland College 80-72 in the NAC Tournament final and clinched their first berth to the NCAA Tournament since 2005.
In front of standing room only crowd in the Todd Wehr Edgedome, the Eagles and the Muskies put away the jabs and started trading haymakers. After a cautious start, Edgewood College (22-6) threatened to put the game away early. Leading 16-15, Faurote ignited the Eagles offense with back-to-back field goals, then Justin Williams scored two of his own for a 24-15 lead.
The Eagles still led 26-20 when freshman Joe Klocek stuck a three-point basket to spark 10-0 run. Senior Ben Wisniewski scored a jumper off the fast break and then fellow senior Derek Nkemnji lit up the place with a breakaway dunk. Sophomore Michael Janusek completed the rally with a three-pointer from the left corner and the Eagles led 36-20. The lead ballooned as high as 18 points, before the Eagles settled for a 44-27 halftime lead.
Lakeland College (21-7) had no intention of going away quietly. With center Justin Ward in foul trouble and the Eagle defense focusing on the NAC's leading scorer Jake Schwarz, the Muskies turned to senior point guard Josh Regal. Regal displayed every shot in his arsenal in personal 6-0 run that cut the Eagles' lead to 51-43 with 14:40 left to play.
A tip-in by Klocek put the Eagles back ahead 58-52 six minutes later, but Lakeland College maintained their momentum. Regal struck again with the Muskies trailing 58-56. Regal drilled a three-pointer from the top of the circle and was fouled by Cashton Craig. He converted the free throw to put the Muskies ahead for the first time since the 13 minute mark of the first half at 60-58.
The next big moment belonged to Faurote. Williams sunk two free throws to give Edgewood College a 64-63 lead. After Schwarz missed a three-point try for Lakeland on the other end. Faurote stepped out behind the arc with the shot clock winding down, took a pass from Wisniewski and drilled a cold-blooded three-point shot while being fouled by Lakeland's Eric Vandivier. Faurote calmly converted the four-point play and the Eagles had a 68-63 lead with 2:34 to go.
Wisniewski hit a short jumper on the next possession and the Muskies were force to begin fouling to extend the game. The Eagles weren't perfect, but went 10-for-16 at the free throw line over the final 90 seconds to clinch their first NAC Championship and trigger a court storming from the Eagles' student section.
Faurote led the Eagles with 25 points and 13 rebounds, passing 600 career rebounds in the process. Nkemnji tallied 14 points including a 6-for-8 effort at the free throw line. Wisniewski scored 12 points and kept the Eagle offense moving with four assists, while Williams was the fourth Eagle in double figures with 10 points.
Regal led all scorers with 29 points on 10-for-22 shooting in the final game of his Lakeland College career. Schwarz scored 14 and pulled down a team-high eight rebounds. The Muskies committed just five turnovers in the game, but shot just 23.1 percent from the three-point line, compared to 35.3 percent for the Eagles. Edgewood College also outscored Lakeland 24-14 at the free throw line.
Edgewood College qualifies for their third NCAA Division III Tournament in school history. The Eagles reached the national tournament in both 2002 and 2005, but are still looking for their first NCAA Tournament victory.
The Edgewood College team will gather together on Monday morning on campus at Phil's Café to watch the NCAA Division III Tournament Selection Show. The Eagles will learn their first and second round destination and opponent in an NCAA.com webcast at 11:00 a.m.
In front of standing room only crowd in the Todd Wehr Edgedome, the Eagles and the Muskies put away the jabs and started trading haymakers. After a cautious start, Edgewood College (22-6) threatened to put the game away early. Leading 16-15, Faurote ignited the Eagles offense with back-to-back field goals, then Justin Williams scored two of his own for a 24-15 lead.
The Eagles still led 26-20 when freshman Joe Klocek stuck a three-point basket to spark 10-0 run. Senior Ben Wisniewski scored a jumper off the fast break and then fellow senior Derek Nkemnji lit up the place with a breakaway dunk. Sophomore Michael Janusek completed the rally with a three-pointer from the left corner and the Eagles led 36-20. The lead ballooned as high as 18 points, before the Eagles settled for a 44-27 halftime lead.
Lakeland College (21-7) had no intention of going away quietly. With center Justin Ward in foul trouble and the Eagle defense focusing on the NAC's leading scorer Jake Schwarz, the Muskies turned to senior point guard Josh Regal. Regal displayed every shot in his arsenal in personal 6-0 run that cut the Eagles' lead to 51-43 with 14:40 left to play.
A tip-in by Klocek put the Eagles back ahead 58-52 six minutes later, but Lakeland College maintained their momentum. Regal struck again with the Muskies trailing 58-56. Regal drilled a three-pointer from the top of the circle and was fouled by Cashton Craig. He converted the free throw to put the Muskies ahead for the first time since the 13 minute mark of the first half at 60-58.
The next big moment belonged to Faurote. Williams sunk two free throws to give Edgewood College a 64-63 lead. After Schwarz missed a three-point try for Lakeland on the other end. Faurote stepped out behind the arc with the shot clock winding down, took a pass from Wisniewski and drilled a cold-blooded three-point shot while being fouled by Lakeland's Eric Vandivier. Faurote calmly converted the four-point play and the Eagles had a 68-63 lead with 2:34 to go.
Wisniewski hit a short jumper on the next possession and the Muskies were force to begin fouling to extend the game. The Eagles weren't perfect, but went 10-for-16 at the free throw line over the final 90 seconds to clinch their first NAC Championship and trigger a court storming from the Eagles' student section.
Faurote led the Eagles with 25 points and 13 rebounds, passing 600 career rebounds in the process. Nkemnji tallied 14 points including a 6-for-8 effort at the free throw line. Wisniewski scored 12 points and kept the Eagle offense moving with four assists, while Williams was the fourth Eagle in double figures with 10 points.
Regal led all scorers with 29 points on 10-for-22 shooting in the final game of his Lakeland College career. Schwarz scored 14 and pulled down a team-high eight rebounds. The Muskies committed just five turnovers in the game, but shot just 23.1 percent from the three-point line, compared to 35.3 percent for the Eagles. Edgewood College also outscored Lakeland 24-14 at the free throw line.
Edgewood College qualifies for their third NCAA Division III Tournament in school history. The Eagles reached the national tournament in both 2002 and 2005, but are still looking for their first NCAA Tournament victory.
The Edgewood College team will gather together on Monday morning on campus at Phil's Café to watch the NCAA Division III Tournament Selection Show. The Eagles will learn their first and second round destination and opponent in an NCAA.com webcast at 11:00 a.m.