WPU News
Sat, Feb 27, 2010 - [Men's Basketball]
Kris Miller knocked down seven three-pointers in the win
La Crosse, Wis.--Two nights after a fellow senior had a career night, Kris Miller (Sr., Belleville, Mich., Belleville HS) no less than took his team on his shoulders and willed them to another upset, this time a 75-68 win over #2 seed Viterbo in the Midwest Collegiate Conference Semifinals Friday.
Miller scored 32 points on 9-15 shooting (7-9 3-PT, 7-9 FT) and #6 seed Penn (22-10) pulled off an upset for the second time in 72 hours.
The Statesmen now advance to face #1 seed Grand View in Des Moines Sunday in the tournament's championship game (tip is set for 6 p.m.). The winner earns an automatic berth to the NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Championship.
Amazingly, it is the sixth trip to the finals in the past seven years for the program. Penn and #16 nationally-ranked Grand View, who knocked off #4 seed Ashford 81-63 in the other semifinal game, split the regular season series with both teams winning in their home gym.
In a game that featured nine ties and nine lead changes, the two squads battled from the opening tip. Despite losing the shooting battle 47.2%-40.7%, the visiting Statesmen found other ways to win, most notably by holding a 42-34 edge in rebounding. Penn was especially strong on the offensive glass with a 13-7 edge, leading to an 18-4 advantage in second-chance points.
The visitors actually committed one more turnover (15-14) than the V-Hawks, but managed to reverse that with a 20-15 margin in points off turnovers.
Penn also made more three-pointers (8-3) and free throws (19-15) than Viterbo, who closes its season at 14-15.
The Statesmen trailed 37-33 at halftime and watched as the host team scored six unanswered to open the second stanza.
Down by double digits, Penn did not blink and went on a 15-5 run to draw even once again at 48-48. The opponents exchanged small leads over the next few minutes before the Statesmen started to slowly pull ahead, eventually holding a team-best nine-point edge at 69-60 with 4:11 remaining.
The V-Hawks refused to go quietly into the night, however, and reeled off eight of the next nine points to cut the deficit to just two at 70-68 with 37 ticks left on the clock.
Joel Stout (Sr., New Sharon, North Mahaska HS) then knocked down two free throws and Penn produced a defensive stop on the other end.
Miller, who was one three-pointer shy of tying the program's single-game mark, added two more charity stripe throws and the victory was sealed.
Nick Coffey (Jr., Hinsdale, Ill., Hinsdale Central HS) joined Miller in double digits with 13 points, while C.J. Hampton (Jr., Chicago, Ill., Chicago State) just missed the mark with nine points.
Caleb Stout (Sr., New Sharon, New Sharon HS) added eight points and shared the team lead in rebounds (6) with Joseph Greenhouse (Sr., Marksville, La., Marksville HS). Greenhouse also paced Penn with three assists and matched Terry Coleman (Sr., Indianapolis, Ind., Anderson) with two steals each.
"This was an incredible win--I am speechless," Statesmen Head Coach John Henry said. "I am so proud of these guys to have pulled off yet another upset. We knew we had an uphill climb before the tournament started and they had no quit in them."
"Kris Miller led us to victory," Henry added. "He has had a lot of great games in his career, but he has never truly led us to a victory like this and I am so proud of him for taking us on his shoulders and getting it done tonight. He, and the efforts of everyone on the court tonight, gave us a chance at Grand View and a national tournament berth Sunday."
Miller scored 32 points on 9-15 shooting (7-9 3-PT, 7-9 FT) and #6 seed Penn (22-10) pulled off an upset for the second time in 72 hours.
The Statesmen now advance to face #1 seed Grand View in Des Moines Sunday in the tournament's championship game (tip is set for 6 p.m.). The winner earns an automatic berth to the NAIA Division II Men's Basketball National Championship.
Amazingly, it is the sixth trip to the finals in the past seven years for the program. Penn and #16 nationally-ranked Grand View, who knocked off #4 seed Ashford 81-63 in the other semifinal game, split the regular season series with both teams winning in their home gym.
In a game that featured nine ties and nine lead changes, the two squads battled from the opening tip. Despite losing the shooting battle 47.2%-40.7%, the visiting Statesmen found other ways to win, most notably by holding a 42-34 edge in rebounding. Penn was especially strong on the offensive glass with a 13-7 edge, leading to an 18-4 advantage in second-chance points.
The visitors actually committed one more turnover (15-14) than the V-Hawks, but managed to reverse that with a 20-15 margin in points off turnovers.
Penn also made more three-pointers (8-3) and free throws (19-15) than Viterbo, who closes its season at 14-15.
The Statesmen trailed 37-33 at halftime and watched as the host team scored six unanswered to open the second stanza.
Down by double digits, Penn did not blink and went on a 15-5 run to draw even once again at 48-48. The opponents exchanged small leads over the next few minutes before the Statesmen started to slowly pull ahead, eventually holding a team-best nine-point edge at 69-60 with 4:11 remaining.
The V-Hawks refused to go quietly into the night, however, and reeled off eight of the next nine points to cut the deficit to just two at 70-68 with 37 ticks left on the clock.
Joel Stout (Sr., New Sharon, North Mahaska HS) then knocked down two free throws and Penn produced a defensive stop on the other end.
Miller, who was one three-pointer shy of tying the program's single-game mark, added two more charity stripe throws and the victory was sealed.
Nick Coffey (Jr., Hinsdale, Ill., Hinsdale Central HS) joined Miller in double digits with 13 points, while C.J. Hampton (Jr., Chicago, Ill., Chicago State) just missed the mark with nine points.
Caleb Stout (Sr., New Sharon, New Sharon HS) added eight points and shared the team lead in rebounds (6) with Joseph Greenhouse (Sr., Marksville, La., Marksville HS). Greenhouse also paced Penn with three assists and matched Terry Coleman (Sr., Indianapolis, Ind., Anderson) with two steals each.
"This was an incredible win--I am speechless," Statesmen Head Coach John Henry said. "I am so proud of these guys to have pulled off yet another upset. We knew we had an uphill climb before the tournament started and they had no quit in them."
"Kris Miller led us to victory," Henry added. "He has had a lot of great games in his career, but he has never truly led us to a victory like this and I am so proud of him for taking us on his shoulders and getting it done tonight. He, and the efforts of everyone on the court tonight, gave us a chance at Grand View and a national tournament berth Sunday."
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