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Cougars' finishing touch keeps grip on MCC lead, stuns #8 TU

Sat., Jan. 17,  2004

    FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- Junior forward Cleevas Craig dropped in an oh-so-soft, yet oh so exhilarating 7-foot jumper along the left baseline with 3.2 seconds left and USF defeated NAIA #8-rated Taylor University 74-71 on Saturday afternoon at Hutzell Athletic Center.

   USF (13-9) improved to 4-0 in Mid-Central Conference play thanks to Craig’s big pick-up, Eaton’s clutch free-throw shooting, John’s Gensic’s 3-point shooting and the grit and determination of the rest of the Cougars. It was USF’s third straight win playing an NAIA Division II ranked opponent, its first against a Top 10 opponent since a stunning preseason No. 1 Cornerstone 89-77 on Nov. 12, 2002. USF is 3-2 against Top 25 teams this season.

   TU (16-4, 2-2 MCC) led 68-61 with 4:28 to play after a Matt Latinga field goal. TU still led 71-68 with 1:09 to play after two free throws by R.J. Beucler.

   “We never gave up and just kept hustlin’,” a smiling Craig said after emerging from the noisy USF locker room. “Intangibles made the difference for us.”

     Trey Eaton (Claypool, IN / Tippecanoe Valley) pulled USF to within 71-70 with two free throws at 50 seconds to play. TU ran the clock down and got two shots with about 15 seconds to play, but Mike Parsons missed a tough leaner along the baseline and Zach Beiswanger collected the precious rebound for USF, raced the ball up-court, then signaled for a timeout.

   After a timeout, Eaton drove the left side of the lane and had the ball stripped. Craig (Fort Wayne) grabbed the loose ball, elevated and plopped in the shot.

   “I just did it,” Craig recalled. “There wasn’t any time to think about it. After it dropped in, I was so happy, but we had to think about getting back and playing defense.

    “After Trey maybe got fouled driving the lane, the ball just rolled to me and I was already in a good position to shoot.”

   TU was called for five seconds attempting to inbound the ball after a timeout. Eaton got the ball, was fouled, and hit both free throws to finish the scoring with 2.6 seconds to play. TU’s inbound pass was intercepted by John Gensic (Albion, IN / Bishop Dwenger) to secure the USF win.

   “Boy was I happy to see Clee get that ball and put it in,” Eaton said as USF fans and families chatted with the players after the win. “He was right there, just another example of everybody playin’ hard, makin’ plays and goin’ after it. I was relieved to see his shot go in.”

   Eaton led USF scoring with 22 points, 17 in the second half.

   “I was mad at halftime and knew we could come out and play better in the second half,” Eaton said.

   Gensic added 17 points,15 in the second half. Gensic connected on 3-of-5 shots from 3-point range in the second half.

   “I was a little behind the arc and maybe they didn’t think I could connect from that range,” Gensic said with a little smile. “I know after winning at Huntington, we had to win these last two home games. This was another confidence builder. “

   Gensic’s 3-pointer with 9:48 to play drew USF within a point, 58-57. R.J. Beucler and Matt Traylor chilled the USF upset hopes with back-to-back 3-pointers and TU built a 68-61 cushion as USF managed just four Gensic free throws over a span of nearly five minutes without a free throw – four points on nine possessions.

   “What a tremendous effort of finding a way to get the win,” USF coach Jeff Rekeweg said afterwards. “This was a great team effort. I don’t know that we’ve had a bigger win here. I am just so pleased for these guys. I’m so impressed with the way that despite our mistakes, we found a way to make the big play.”

   TU led by as many as 11 points in the first half and was in front 39-33 at the half.

   USF is 9-3 against Taylor over the last 12 meetings, but TU leads the all-time series 30-11.

   

-- GO USF --

 
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