2008 Woodie Awards
Men's basketball is off to a running start
David Toelle
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"It was a great game, and we fought really hard," KWU coach Tommy DeSalme said in an interview with the Salina Journal. "This is the first game we guarded the whole game and the first time we've gone a whole game and our offense didn't take away from our defense."
Wesleyan grabed its first lead on a three by Anthony Smith, who got his first start of the season, at 5-4 with 17:08 left.
Wesleyan would extend the lead to 11-7 later in the half forcing a timeout by Newman with 14:25 left in the first half. After a Newman bucket, Marcus Faubion was called for back to back fouls, sending him to the bench.
Newman then responded, going on a 12-3 run over the next nine minutes, grabbing a brief 21-20 lead with 2:08 left on a pair of Aaron Carter free throws. Jeff Baron would give the lead back to the Coyotes with a pair of free throws, and the Coyotes would jump back out to a five-point lead at 26-21 with 31 seconds left in the half. Watts would answer with a three to get within one, but Smith put back a miss by Faubion as time expired to give the Coyotes a 28-24 lead at the half.
Newman would fight back, cutting into the Coyote lead and taking its first lead since the 2:08 mark of the first half on a basket by Lucas Morgan at 56-55 with 1:31 left. Jackson would tie it up at 56 with a free throw, only to be answered by Morgan again at the line, giving Newman a 57-56 lead with 44 seconds left. Morgan missed the second shot, and Smith grabbed the board, and was tied up by Newman, but kept possession for the Coyotes on the jump ball.
After a Wesleyan timeout, Josh Berry found Smith wide open on the left wing for the go ahead three with 10 seconds left. Following a Wesleyan timeout, Faubion picked Walter Boldrini's pocket at midcourt and went he other way for a dunk as time expired to give the Coyotes the 61-57 upset win.
Smith led all scorers in the game, dropping in 19 for the Coyotes, including 5-of-9 from behind the arc, while Faubion added 18 and Trey Sims had 11 to lead the Coyotes. Sims led all rebounders in the game with 10 for his first double double for the Coyotes, while Baron and Smith each added seven as the Coyotes won the rebounding battle 46-31, including 22 offensive rebounds that led to 15 second chance points.
The Coyotes are back in action on Wednesday in an exhibition game against Washburn (Kan.) at Lee Arena in Topeka. Wesleyan then finally makes its home debut next Saturday against Oklahoma Wesleyan at 8:00 PM inside Muir Gym.
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