Kirkwood downs Columbus State; moves on to semi's
March 19, 2009
Danville, IL- Game 7 of the NJCAA DII Men's Basketball Tournament featured #5 ranked Kirkwood Community College vs. #1 ranked Columbus State Community College. This highly anticipated match-up will decide who will get to advance to the tournament semifinals. Columbus State is coming off of a 1st round win over South Suburban College. Kirkwood received a 1st round bye from a blind draw.
Both squads missed several bunnies in the first 2 minutes of the contest, leaving the score 0-0. Quickly both squads found their grove on offense, sparking a 3-pointer contest which left the score 12-8 in Kirkwood's favor with 15 minutes remaining. Columbus State most definitely had the size advantage on Kirkwood, forcing them to sit in a zone. Columbus kept getting good looks at the hoop midway through the half, but had trouble finishing at the rim. Kirkwood took advantage and expanded the lead to 21-11. The Kirkwood run made Columbus State Head Coach Patrick Carlisle call a timeout to calm his team. Right out of the timeout, Columbus State's Jerrell Sanders slammed a monster breakaway dunk to give a little life back to his team. After a scoring drought from both teams, Kirkwood made another run that was topped off by a transition pull-up 3-pointer by Rashad Basey, giving his team the 26-15 advantage with 6 minutes remaining in the half. Columbus State got an easy bucket to kill the run, but Kirkwood kept bringing the heat bumping the score to 32-17, forcing Columbus State Head Coach Patrick Carlisle to call another timeout with 3 minutes remaining in the half. Columbus State was able to get a couple of buckets before the end of the half, but Kirkwood stayed in the lead with a score of 37-21.
1ST HALF LEADERS FOR KIRKWOOD:
Rashad Basey, 6'3" Soph, 8 pts
Joel Barkers, 6'6" Soph, 6 pts
Jarvis Williams, 6'4" Fresh, 6 pts
1ST HALF LEADERS FOR COLUMBUS STATE:
Jerrell Sanders, 6'5" Soph, 8 pts
Kendall Holt, 5'11" Fresh, 6 pts
Brandon Beasley, 6'4" Soph, 3 pts
Kirkwood started the half with 6 quick points, compared to 2 for Columbus State. Kirkwood alternated between man-to-man and zone defenses. Jerrell Sanders was the only consistent scoring threat for Columbus State. Kirkwood proved that they are a defensive minded team not allowing Columbus State to get anything easy. By the 13 minute mark, Kirkwood held a 48-27 lead. Jarvis Williams stepped up big for Kirkwood scoring 10 points off the bench after a couple starters were flirting with foul trouble. Kirkwood maintained the 20 point lead for the next several minutes. Columbus State finally cut the lead to 17 with 9 minutes left. Kirkwood Head Coach Doug Wagemester called a full timeout to let his team know that the game wasn't over yet. Columbus State came out of the timeout and scored 6 straight points. Kirkwood ended the 9-0 run hitting a free throw with 9 minutes left, still in the 51-39 lead. Both teams went back and forth at each other for the next several minutes. At about the 5 minute mark, Kirkwood committed several fouls that sent a couple players to the bench with foul trouble. Columbus State was also shooting the double bonus for every foul committed. They were able to bring the game within 11 points after made free throws and a 3-pointer with 3 minutes remaining. The following possession had a double-technical foul on a player from each team, which offset and no free throws were shot. Bryce Brunz hit a big 3-pointer to put Kirkwood up 16 points with less than 2 minutes to play. Columbus State hit some free throws, followed by a banked-in 3-pointer by Reginald Smith. Columbus State started to foul as the clock ticked under 1 minute, but Bryce Brunz stepped up and was perfect from the free-throw line. Kirkwood ended up owning the victory, with a final score of 73-60.
Kirkwood will advance to the semifinals to play the winner of Cecil CC and Lincoln College on Friday, March 20 at 8:30 PM. Columbus State will continue to play in the consolation bracket, and will face the loser of Cecil CC and Lincoln on Friday, March 20 at 3:00 PM.
GAME LEADERS FOR KIRKWOOD:
Bryce Brunz, 6'0" Soph, 17 pts
Rashad Basey, 6'3" Soph, 16 pts
Jarvis Williams, 6'4" Fresh, 12 pts
Joel Barkers, 6'6" Soph, 10 pts
GAME LEADERS FOR COLUMBUS STATE:
Brandon Beasley, 6'4" Soph, 12 pts
Gregory Rice, 6'4" Soph, 12 pts
Jerrell Sanders, 6'5" Soph, 11 pts
Kendall Holt, 5'11" Fresh, 9 pts