RIVER FALLS, WI - The Kalamazoo College men's basketball team won 63-60 over the University of Wisconsin-River Falls tonight. The Hornets are back above .500 at 5-4 overall this season
The first half of the game was just about as close as it could be. The largest scoring gap over the extent of the 20 minutes was a six point lead by the Falcons. Not only were the teams equal in scoring, they both also had 13 first half rebounds and five turnovers. The teams also shot within 1.8 percent of one another with Kalamazoo shooting 55.6 percent and River Falls shooting 53.8. Considering all of those even numbers, it was only fitting that the game was tied 34-34 at the half.
Adam Dykema and Adam Peters were big for Kalamazoo in the first half; they combined for 20 points on 9/15 shooting. Carl Ghfari, Keith Garber, and Scott Wharam provided a nice punch off the bench with a combined six first half points.
The second half was even closer than the first scoring wise. The largest lead was four points, which each team held at different times of the half. Both teams shot within two percent again, albeit a much lower percentage with the Falcons outshooting the Hornets 32 percent to 30. Dkyema and Peters continued their strong play in the second half as the two finished the game with 15 and 14 respectively. Carl Ghafari was big in the second half scoring five points including some clutch free throws down the stretch. Josh Miller put up 10 points and grabbed seven boards and Jake Whitney led the team with eight rebounds.
Free throws are what won the game for the Hornets at the end. A pair of Adam Dykema free throws gave the Hornets a 57-55 lead with 2:09 left in the game. After the Falcons tied it back up Jake Whitney put Kalamazoo up 59-57 on a tip in. A set of Keith Garber free throws put Kalamazoo up 61-57 with 30 seconds left to play. After a Falcon layup, Adam Dykema sank two free throws to give the Hornets a three point lead with one second to go and the Falcons were unsuccessful in their desperation three point attempt to tie the game.
The bench was outstanding for Kalamazoo tonight. Adam Dykema led the way with his big night but Wharam, Ghafari, and Garber wound up combining for 13. The Hornets had 28 bench points overall.
The Hornets don't get to come home just yet as they play in Wisconsin again tomorrow at 8:30 against University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.