CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR MARCH 3, 2001
MEN'S BASKETBALL
ADA, OH * Calvin's run through the NCAA III Tournament was cut short by a defensive-minded Ohio Northern team as the Knights fell to the host Polar Bears 79-68 Saturday night in front of nearly 2,500 fans at the King Horn Convention Center.
Leading 47-45 with 9:46 remaining, the top-ranked Polar Bears (25-2) proceeded to outscore Calvin (23-5) 24-10 over the next eight minutes to build a 71-55 lead. Three-pointers from freshman Jim Conrad and Chad Bostelman ignited the Ohio Northern run and allowed the Polar Bears to break open a tight and physical contest. With the breathing room of a double-digit lead, Ohio Northern was able to dictate the tempo and force the Knights to foul. Calvin used a late 8-0 run to cut the lead to single-digits at 71-63 with 1:20 left to play but Ohio Northern converted 18-of-22 attempts at the free throw line in the final five minutes to seal the win.
Ranked ninth nationally in scoring average heading into Saturday, Calvin was held 17 points below its scoring average and held below 70 points for just the third time this year.
Ohio Northern converted 28-of-34 (.824) of its attempts at the free throw line including 24-of-28 (.857) in the second half. The Polar Bears also converted 7 of 13 attempts (.538) from three-point range including 5-of-8 in the second half.
Calvin shot just 6-of-25 (.240) from three-point territory including just 3-of-14 in the second half. The Knights were 12-of-13 (.923) at the free throw line including 5-of-6 in the second half.
Sophomores Bryan Foltice (Tri-unity Christian) and Jeremy Veenstra (Kalamazoo Christian) paced the Calvin scoring attack with 17 and 16 points respectively. Veenstra also grabbed 10 rebounds to rack up his 14th career double-double. Senir Josh Tubergen (Holland Christian) and freshman Rob Holleman (Chandler, MN) added 10 points apiece for the Knights.
With his 16-point performance Saturday night, Veenstra became the 14th player in Calvin men's basketball history to surpass the 1,000 point plateau and just the third player to do so in his sophomore year. In addition, he became the fifth-fastest player in Calvin men's basketball history to reach the 1,000 point plateau, surpassed only by Mark Veenstra, Dan Davis, Steve Honderd and Bill Sall.
Ohio Northern was led in scoring by Bostelman and Conrad who pumped in 18 and 16 points respectively while senior Mike Heitkamp had 15 points and 11 boards. Senior Kris Oberdick added 12 points and 8 rebounds for the Polar Bears while Kyle Lowry added 10.
Saturday night's win marked the first time since 1993 that Ohio Northern has advanced beyond the second round of the NCAA III Tournament. Ironically, the Polar Bears defeated defending national champion Calvin in the 1993 national quarterfinals and went on to win the national championship. It also marked the third win by Ohio Northern without a loss over Calvin in NCAA III Tournament play.
Calvin is now 23-14 in 13 NCAA III Tournament appearances. The Knights are also 5-12 in NCAA III Tournament games played in the state of Ohio.
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