Wohltman Scores Nine For Indiana Tech

FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- Free throws were the story of the game as the Indiana Tech men’s basketball team couldn’t convert down the stretch, losing a heartbreaker, 80-76, in double-overtime to Taylor on Saturday night at the Schaefer Center.

A Parker Stouffer dunk got the scoring started for the Warriors and set the tone for the first half as the two teams were locked in a defensive duel for much of the first period, with the two teams tying at 10 points at the 9:55 mark. The teams tied five times in the half, the last coming with 4:44 to play in the half at 14 all. The Warriors closed the half on a 14-8 run to take a 27-22 lead into the break.

Tech scored 12 points in the paint and got 16 bench points, led by Rontray Chavis' eight. On the defensive end, the Trojans netted just eight points in the paint, but scored six points off of four Warrior turnovers. The Orange and Black made 11-of-28 (39.3%) shots from the field including their best three-point effort of the season, knocking down 3-of-6 (50%) from long range. Taylor connected on just 7-of-27 (25.9) shots from the floor and 2-of-10 (20%) from three.

It was much of the same in the second half, with Tech taking its largest lead of the game at five points, 32-27, at the 17:03 mark. The Warriors didn’t trail until the 3:44 mark when Josh Riikonen knocked down a pair of free throws to put the Trojans up two, 56-54. It was a tense final three minutes with Tech tying the game on a John Cooksey layup and then taking the lead with 2:47 to play on a Chavis layup. However, with time winding down, Riikonen converted a layup of his own to tie the score at 58 with 27 seconds to play. Chavis had one last chance with three second to play but his layup rimmed out, sending the game to overtime.

The Trojans took control in the first extra period stretching the lead to four, 62-58 on a three-pointer from Ben Raichel. After trading baskets and tying for the 12th time, the Trojans went up three on a Riikonen layup to take another three point lead with 2:07 to play. Cooksey then hit his first three of the season to tie the game with 35 seconds to play, leading to a second overtime.

The two teams tied for the 15th and final time at 70 with 2:53 to play when Chavis hit the first of two free throws, giving Tech the one point advantage. A three by Raichel gave the Trojans momentum and they eventually took the largest lead of the game at six points, 77-71, with 55 seconds to play and despite their best efforts, the Warriors comeback fell short, losing the contest 80-76.

The Warriors finished the game 27-for-71 (38%) from the field and 5-for-12 (41.7%) from behind the arc, however, Tech went 17-for-27 (63%) from the charity stripe while the Trojans finished 25-for-56 (44.6%) from the field, 6-for-18 (33.36%) from long range and 24-for-33 (72.7%) from the free throw line.

Chavis finished the contest with 24 points and 15 rebounds while Cooksey added 16 and 14, respectively. Another bright spot for the Warriors was the three-point shooting of Jeremy Wohltman, Effingham High School graduate and Cooksey who both finished the night with two long balls each. Wohltman tallied nine points.

Riikonen led the Trojans with 20 points and 14 boards while Kyle Stidom added 19 points.

The Warriors remain 10th in the NAIA in field goal percentage defense (.366) and 11th in blocks with 19.

The Warriors return to the court on Tuesday, Nov. 12 when they travel to Wilberforce, Ohio to face the Bulldogs of Wilberforce University at 7:30 p.m.

EIU Hosts Home Opener Wednesday

CHARLESTON – The Panther men’s basketball team opens the home portion of its schedule on Wednesday, Nov. 13, playing host to Olivet Nazarene at 7 p.m. inside Lantz Arena.

THE OPENING TIP
The Panther men’s basketball team opens the home portion of its schedule on Wednesday, Nov. 13, playing host to Olivet Nazarene at 7 p.m. inside Lantz Arena. EIU is 0-1 on the year after dropping its season opener at Northwestern, 72-55, on Saturday, Nov. 9.

Olivet Nazarene is 1-0 on the year after defeating Cincinnati Christian University, 80-73, on Friday, Nov. 8. The Tigers play at Lewis University on Monday, Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m. before traveling to Eastern Illinois.

The Tigers are coached by Ralph Hodge who is in his 35th season at the helm of the program. ONU competes at the NAIA Division II level and is a member of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC). EIU will also play CCAC member Roosevelt University on Nov. 23 at Lantz Arena.

LAST TIME OUT
The Panthers dropped a 72-55 contest at Northwestern on Saturday, Nov. 9. EIU was led in scoring by Reggie Smith who scored 19 points while Dennis Green grabbed a team-high seven rebounds. EIU outscored Northwestern, 24-12, in the paint and scored 21 points off the bench.