SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - Thanks to a scoring outburst by guard Jason
Hicks, the Walsh University Cavaliers were able to outlast the
Purdue University Calumet Peregrines, 75-71, and win the
Kiwanis-Wittenberg Holiday Classic consolation game.
The win improved Walsh, which came into the game on a three-game
losing streak after falling 65-60 in the first round of the
tournament to Taylor, to 8-5 overall. Purdue-Calumet, which lost by
30 to host Wittenberg in the opening round, departs Springfield
with a 5-11 overall record.
Hicks headed into the locker room with zero points in the first
half, but two straight three-pointers to start the second half
rallied the Cavaliers from a six-point deficit and they kept
feeding the hot hand. He poured in 21 second-half points in all, in
addition to four assists and three steals. Hicks was 6-of-11 from
the field, including 4-of-8 from three-point range, and he knocked
down 5-of-6 from the free throw line, including several big shots
down the stretch when PUC turned to fouling the Cavaliers in an
attempt to make up the deficit.
Forward Randy Sistrunk added 17 points and 15 rebounds in a
terrific effort of his own for the Cavaliers, and diminutive guard
Brandon Weems chipped in with 11 points, four steals and three
assists in 26 minutes off the bench. The key for Weems was a 3-of-4
performance from beyond the arc.
Purdue-Calumet gave a game effort, putting four players in double
figures offensively, but 40 percent shooting, compared to 47
percent for Walsh, was the difference. Marquice Woods was
tremendous, finishing with 21 points, 12 rebounds and six assists,
Thomas Mosley added 16 points and three assists, Minuyard Wheeler
chipped in with 12 points, Steve Polak had 10 points off the bench
and Mike Yagelski finished with six points and 10 boards.