John Carroll, 82-77, to Win OAC Title
BEREA, OHIO — Sophomore forward Tori Davis (Elyria/ Open Door) scored 24 points and grabbed 13 rebounds tonight (Saturday, February 26, 2005) as the sixth-seeded Baldwin-Wallace College men's basketball team defeated top-seeded, host and Cleveland cross-town rival John Carroll University, 82-77, to win the 2005 Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament Championship Game at the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center in University Heights.
With its win, B-W is now 20-8 overall and earns the OAC's automatic berth in next week's NCAA Division III National Tournament. The OAC title is B-W's third and first since 1998. The win also was B-W's second straight against JCU this year at the DeCarlo Varsity Center. Head Coach Steve Bankson has now coached his team to 20 wins in a season for the second time in his career. With its loss, JCU is now 22-5 overall.
In the first half, there were five ties and six lead changes. B-W would lead by as many as five points on a layup by freshman guard Tyler Sekerak (Corry, Pa./ Corry) at the 16:03 mark. Both teams would exchange leads when John Carroll's Michael Grogan connected on a three-pointer with 3:46 left in the first half to give the Blue Streaks the lead. JCU would take a 39-35 advantage heading into the break. The Yellow Jackets shot 52 percent from the floor (13-of-25) and the Blue Streaks shot 55.2 percent (16-of-29).
In the second half, B-W would tie the game for the seventh time at 45-45 with 15:28 left in the game on a jumper by Tori Davis. The Yellow Jackets led by as many as many as 14 at 73-59 with 4:11 left to go thanks to a pair of free-throws by freshman forward Cherod Hale (Akron/ Kenmore). JCU would go on a 14-6 run to pull within two at 79-77 capped by a layup by JCU's Pete Moran. A pair of free-throws by senior point guard Tom Harrington (North Royalton/ Parma Holy Name) and a free-throw by senior forward Thad Davis (Elyria/ Open Door) would seal the deal for the Yellow Jackets en route to the 82-77 victory.
Joining Tori Davis in double figures for B-W were Thad Davis with 18 points and five rebounds. Harrington and junior guard Keith Aufmuth (Brooklyn) each added 11.
JCU had three players in double figures led by Andrew Salata with 17 points. Pete Moran scored 14 points and had four assists and Justin Ragor added 12.
With Thad Davis' 18 points and five rebounds tonight, he now has 1,906 career points and 984 rebounds to rank second all-time in scoring and fourth in rebounding.
Two Yellow Jackets also surpassed single-season school records. Harrington had five assists to establish a B-W single-season record of 161 and surpassed the previous mark of 158 by Wayne Bilinovic (1986-90). Tori Davis had three blocks bringing his season total to 61 which surpasses Kevin Braaten's previous school-record of 58 in a season.
The B-W women's team also won its OAC Championship game defeating defending OAC and NCAA Division III National Champion Wilmington College, 81-59, to advance to the 2005 NCAA National Tournament. It is the first time in OAC history that both the men's and women's basketball teams from the same school won the OAC Tournament Championship.
OAC Men's All-Tournament Team
Zach Ross (Muskingum)
Justin Ragor (John Carroll)
Brandon Mimes (John Carroll)
Tori Davis (B-W)
Thad Davis (B-W)
FOR MORE B-W SPORTS INFORMATION, please contact B-W Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327, by FAX machine at 440-826-2329 or via e-mail at kruple@bw.edu.
Game Notes #28 vs. John Carroll
The sixth-seeded BALDWIN-WALLACE COLLEGE YELLOW JACKET men's basketball team will travel to University Heights to play Ohio Athletic Conference and Cleveland cross-town rival John Carroll University in the Championship Game of the 2005 Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament on Saturday, February 26 at 7:30 p.m. The winner receives the OAC’s automatic berth in the 2005 NCAA Division III National Tournament which begins next week.
RADIO -- Baldwin-Wallace College campus radio station WBWC, 88.3 FM, broadcasts all home and away Yellow Jacket games both live and over the College internet Web site. The pregame show on radio starts 15 minutes prior to game time. For more information regarding B-W basketball broadcasts, please visit the B-W internet Web site at www.bw.edu/athletics.
BALDWIN-WALLACE COLLEGE
LOCATION : Berea, Ohio
NICKNAME: Yellow Jackets
CONFERENCE: Ohio Athletic
2004-2005 RECORD: 19-8
OAC RECORD: 10-8
SEED IN OAC TRNY: Sixth
LAST GAME: Beat Mt. Union, 85-50, on Feb. 25 in University Hts.
HEAD COACH: Steve Bankson
B-W RECORD: 364-298
YEAR AT B-W: 26th
CAREER RECORD: 40 yrs./ 645-414
LAST MEETING: B-W won, 93-81, in University Hts. on Jan. 26, 2005
SERIES STREAK: B-W, one
SERIES RECORD: B-W leads, 50-43
NEXT GAME: The winner advances to the 2005 NCAA Division III National Tournament
JOHN CARROLL UNIVERSITY
LOCATION: University Heights, Ohio
NICKNAME: Blue Streaks
CONFERENCE: Ohio Ahletic
2004-2005 RECORD: 22-4
OAC RECORD: 14-4 (OAC reg. season champs)
SEED: First
LAST GAME: Beat Muskingum, 70-67 in OT, on Feb. 25 in University Hts.
HEAD COACH: Mike Moran
JCU RECORD: 237-118
YEAR AT JCU: 13th
CAREER RECORD: same
The Pregame Notes -- The Baldwin-Wallace College Yellow Jacket men's basketball team will look to capture the 2005 Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament title as it faces OAC and Cleveland cross-town rival John Carroll University in the OAC Championship Game in University Heights. B-W is looking for its second straight win against JCU at the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center. The winner of this game recevies the OAC’s automatic berth into next week’s NCAA Division III National Tournament.
The Yellow Jackets enter this game with a 19-8 overall record and earned the sixth seed in the tourney by finishing with a 10-8 OAC regular season record. B-W advanced to the championship game by upsetting third-seeded Otterbein College, 78-76 in overtime, in Westerville on Wednesday and then beat seventh-seeded Mt. Union College, 85-50, last night in the semifinals.
The Blue Streaks enters this game with a 22-4 overall record and are the top seed by virtue of their 14-4 OAC regular season mark and the OAC regular season title. JCU advanced to the championship game by beating Wilmington College, 75-67, in the semifinals on Wednesday and then beat Muskingum College, 70-67 in overtime, last night in the semifinals. JCU also is the defending OAC Tournament champion.
The Baldwin-Wallace Versus John Carroll University Series -- This is the 94th all-time meeting between B-W and JCU in men's basketball. B-W leads the series, 50-43, including a 93-81 win in University Heights in the last meeting between the two teams on January 26, 2005. JCU won the first meeting this season with a 70-68 victory at the Ursprung Gymnasium in Berea on January 12.
The Division III National Poll -- John Carroll comes into the game ranked 11th in the country this week by the D3hoops.com internet web site national Division III poll. The Yellow Jackets are unranked.
The Quarterfinal Games in the OAC Tournament on Wednesday Night-- In the first round/ quarterfinal games of the OAC Tournament, three of the top four seeds lost and top-seeded John Carroll University also had to come back from a six-point second half decifit to win. JCU defeated eighth-seeded Wilmington College, 75-67 in University Heights. Mt. Union beat Capital, 95-74, in Bexley. B-W beat Otterbein, 78-76 in overtime, in Westerville. Fifth-seeded Muskingum College beat fourth -seed Ohio Northern University, 81-63, in Ada.
The Semifinal Games in the OAC Tournament Last Night -- In last night’s OAC semifinal games, top-seeded JCU defeated fifth-seeded Muskingum, 70-67, and sixth-seeded B-W beat seventh-seeded Mt. Union, 85-50. The win was JCU’s first in three tries this year against the Fighting Muskies. B-W’s win was its third against the Purple Raiders.
The Baldwin-Wallace College Starters -- Look for veteran Yellow Jackets Head Coach Steve Bankson to start 6’4” senior two-time All-OAC forward Thad Davis (Elyria/ Open Door Christian School), his brother, 6’4” sophomore All-OAC forward Tori Davis (Elyria/ Open Door Christian School). At the point guard will be 5’11” senior Academic All-OAC player Tom Harrington (North Royalton/ Parma Heights Holy Name) and at the wing will be 6’0” junior All-OAC player Keith Aufmuth (Brooklyn). Rounding out the starters will be either 6’2” sophomore guard Nick Meyer (Mentor), 6’0” freshman Tyler Sekerak (Corry, Pa./ Corry Area), 5’11” freshman guard Brendan Schuler (Fairview Park) or 6’5” sophomore wing Matt Marks (Boardman). Thad Davis tops the team in scoring with 20.3 points per game, grabs 12.0 rebounds per game and is canning 59.7 percent of his field goals (207-of-347). Tori Davis is second in scoring at 18.6 ppg., second with 8.5 rpg.and 25 steals, first with 58 blocked shots , and is shooting 60.3 percent from the floor (185-of-307). Keith Aufmuth is third in scoring at 9.8 ppg., first with 47 treys and is second with 93 assists. Harrington is fourth in scoring at 8.8 ppg., first with 156 assists, second with 36 three-pointers. Meyer scores 3.8 ppg., and has 16 three-pointers. Marks is averaging 5.0 ppg. and has 15 three-pointers. Schuler is averaging 3.9 ppg. and has 46 assists and 14 three-pointers. Sekerak is scoring 3.9 ppg., has 37 assists, is third on the team with 23 steals and has canned 11 three-pointers. Also off the bench, look for Bankson to play 6’4” sophomore forward Chad Clark (Fremont/ Ross) and 6’5” junior forward Charod Hale (Akron/Kenmore),
The John Carroll University Probable Starters -- Look for veteran Blue Streak Head Coach Mike Moran to start 5’11” senior guard Peter Koch and 6’0” freshman John Curran in the back-court. On the inside, look for 6’4” sophomore Brandon Mimes, the athletic 6’0’ senior Demetrius Travis and 6’3” sophomore Joe Kimmerer to start. Koch scores 8.0 ppg., grabs 3.5 rpg., has passed for 45 assists, made 20 steals and has canned 14 three-pointers. Curran is averaging 5.4 ppg. with 16 treys and shoots 89.7 percent from the foul line (35-of-39). Mimes, one of the OAC’s top players, is scoring a team-leading 17.1 ppg., grabs a team-leading 8.2 rpg. and shoots 60.6 percent from the floor (152-of-251). He also has 47 steals and has blocked 35 shots. Travis scores 6.9 ppg., grabs 4.3 rpg., shoots 55.9 percent from the floor (81-of-145) and tops the team with 53 steals. Kimmerer has started 10 times and scores 1.6 ppg. and grabs 1.3 rpg.
Off the bench look for Moran to play 6’2” senior Mike Grogan, 6’7” senior center Drew Salata, 5’11” senior Pete Moran, 6’0” sophomore guard Chris Day, and 6’6” junior forward Kyle Roggenburk and possibly others. Grogan scores 12.7 ppg. and is first with 45 treys. Salata scores 9.7 ppg., grabs 6.4 rpg. and tops the team with 39 blocked shots. Moran scores 8.5 ppg., is first with 81 assists and fourth with 33 steals.
In the First Meeting Between B-W and JCU, on January 12 in Berea: John Carroll -- 70, Baldwin-Wallace -- 68 -- In the first meeting between B-W and JCU, on January 12 in Berea, the Blue Streaks overcame a 10-point second half deficit to beat the Yellow Jackets, 70-68. Despite the loss for B-W, brothers Thad and Tori Davis led the Yellow Jackets in scoring with 19 points each. Tori Davis also had a game-high 12 rebounds. In addition, senior point guard Tom Harrington scored 12 points on four three-pointers and junior guard Keith Aufmuth had the only double-double of his career with 10 points and 10 assists. Sophomore forward Brandon Mimes led four Blue Streak scorers in double figures with 11 points.
In the Second Meeting This Season Between B-W and JCU on Jan. 26 in University Heights: Baldwin-Wallace -- 93, JCU -- 81-- In the second meeting this season between B-W and JCU, on January 26 in University Heights at the DeCarlo Varsity Center, the Yellow Jackets broke an eight-game losing streak to the Blue Streaks with a 93-81 victory before a capacity crowd. Junior guard Keith Aufmuth led five B-W players in double figures with a game-high 20 points. Senior forward Thad Davis had 19 points and a game-high 17 rebounds, senior point guard Tom Harrington had 17 points, sophomore forward Tori Davis had 13 points and freshman guard Brendan Schuler had a career-high 12 markers. For the Blue Streaks, sophomore forward Brandon Mimes led the way with 19 points and 13 rebounds. He was one of five JCU players in double digits.
In B-W’s Last Game on Friday, Feb. 25 versus Mount Union in the OAC Semifinals at JCU: Baldwin-Wallace -- 85, Mt. Union -- 50 -- In B-W’s last game, an 85-50 OAC Tournament semifinal game win against Mount Union College at the Tony DeCarlo Center in University Heights, the Yellow Jackets were led by sophomore forward Tori Davis with 18 points and five rebounds. The win was B-W’s third this year against the Purple Raiders. In addition to Tori Davis, senior forward Thad Davis scored 12 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Freshman guard Brendan Schuler scored 11 points and senior point guard Tom Harrington added 10. Mount Union was led by Chris Blakely and Kyle Karpinski with 15 and 13 points respectively.
In JCU’s Last Game on Friday, Feb. 25 versus Muskingum in the OAC Semifinals at JCU: John Carroll -- 70, Muskingum -- 67 -- In JCU’s last game, a 70-67 OAC Tournament semifinal game win against Muskingum College at the Tony DeCarlo Center in University Heights, the Blue Streaks were led by junior guard Justin Ragor with a game-high 25 points. The win against Muskingum was JCU’s first in three tries this season versus the Fighting Muskies. In addition to Ragor, sophomore forward Brandon Mimes scored 10 points. Senior center Andrew Salata grabbed a game-high nine rebounds for the Blue Streaks in the win.
Yellow Jacket Chatter
Senior Thad Davis is Among B-W Greats -- With his 1,888 career points, Thad Davis is second on College the all-time scoring list. Thad also has 979 career rebounds and is fourth on that all-time list. Thad also has become the school’s all-time leader in blocked shots this season. With his 57 blocks this season, he now has 187 for his career and surpassed former B-W All-American Kevin Braaten (1993-1997) who had 169 in his stellar career.
Senior Tom Harrington Also Among All-Time Leaders -- Tom Harrington is fourth all-time in assists with 406 in his career. Harrington has led the OAC in assists the past two years with 139 a year ago and his current total of 156. Harrington is just two assists shy of setting a school-record for assists in a single-season. The record holder is former B-W Academic All-American and current Garfield Trinity High School Head Coach Wayne Bilinovic (1986-1990) who set the record with 158 assists. Harrington is also a finalist for this year’s ESPN/ Bob Cousy Collegiate Point Guard of the Year award. He is just one of three Division III finalist.
Tori Davis Ties Single-Season Record for Blocked Shots -- Without recording any blocked shots against Mt. Union in last night’s OAC semifinal win, sophomore forward Tori Davis is tied with Kevin Braaten’s (1993-96) school single-season record for blocked shots. Tori now has 58 blocked shots equaling Braaten’s mark of 58. Tori also had a career-high-tying eight blocked shots in a game last week against Ohio Northern University in Ada.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, Please visit the Baldwin-Wallace Athletics website at www.bw.edu/athletics for up to date results and statistics. For further inquiries, please contact B-W SID Kevin Ruple by phone at (440) 826-2327, by FAX at (440) 826-2329 or via e-mail at kruple@bw.edu. For more Yellow Jacket men's basketball information, please contact Head Coach Steve Bankson by phone at (440) 826-2039, by FAX at (440) 826-2192 or via e-mail at sbankson@bw.edu.
275 Eastland Rd.