| Highlanders' defense freezes out Cougars |
Mon., Dec. 30, 2002FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Houghton (N.Y.) College will play Spalding (Ky.) for the 2002 Cougars Holiday Tournament Championship on Tues., Dec. 31, at 4 p.m. at Hutzell Athletic Center. Houghton (4-6) advanced to the championship with a 75-68 win over NAIA Division II No. 24 University of Saint Francis (8-8) on Monday night. Spalding (8-6) breezed into the championship game with a 118-62 win over Cincinnati Clermont (5-11). Houghton shot 62 percent (13 of 21) in the second half to stun the Cougars, who came into the game 5-0 at home this season. USF shot 36 percent (12 of 33) in the second half and 33 percent (20 of 60) for the game. The Highlanders shot 54 percent (26 of 48) for the game. USF shot 12 percent (2 of 17) from 3-point range. Chase Holden (Hamilton / Hamilton) led USF scoring with 21 points. Keith Roddy (Fort Wayne / Concordia) added 13 for the Cougars, who were outrebounded 41-34. Jason Lee led a balanced effort for Houghton with 17 points. Adam Zoeller added 15, Matt Meabon 14 and Eric Jankov 11. Houghton won despite going nearly three minutes without scoring. The Highlanders took a 69-59 lead with 4:46 to play in the second half and didn’t score again until Jeremy Gorham hit a free throw with 1:47 left. Gorham’s free throw put HC ahead 70-63. During the same stretch, the Cougars managed just four points. USF got no closer than five point in the time remaining. Houghton led 35-34 at the half. The Cougars tied the score at 37 with 19:11 to play in the second half on a 3-point play by Roddy, but USF couldn’t get the lead nor could they get another tie. Houghton pulled away to a 49-41 lead on two free throws by Zoeller, then USF rallied to within 49-48 on a Cleevas Craig free throw with 11:43 to play. Two 3-pointers by Seth Raper helped Houghton stretch the lead back out to a more comfortable margin. -- GO USF -- |