By the slimmest of margins. That could be said for both nights of UW-Whitewater's participation in the 2009 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III championship tournament, defeating Elmhurst College 81-79 in overtime Friday in the opening round of play, then falling to defending national champion Washington University of Saint Louis 73-70 Saturday night in the regional final in Elmhurst, Illinois.
box score
NCAA Tournament page
Whitewater NCAA tournament page
The Bears started out quickly, jumping on top 11-0 before the Warhawks scored their points on a tip-in by Chris Vines (Milwaukee/Washington) at 13:06. The Warhawks regrouped and pulled within three, twice, once on a three by Matt Goodwin (Milwaukee/King) at 5:07 to make it 22-19, and again on a jumper by Dustin Mitchell (Lac Du Flambeau/Lakeland) at 4:45 to make it 24-21. Washington finished the half the same way it started, running off seven straight points to take a 37-26 halftime lead.
Washington came out of the lockerroom the same way it went in, running off seven points to take their biggest lead of the game, 44-26 at 16:47. With the score 49-33 UW-W fought back, scoring eleven consecutive points to cut the margin to 49-44 at 11:44. Phil Negri (Minocgua/Lakeland)'s three at 8:10 brought UW-W within one, 54-53. Negri came through again, hitting another trey at 5:13 to give Whitewater its first lead 61-60. There was another run in the Bears, 7-0 this time, to give them a 68-61 cushion at 3:32. That wasn't going to be the end of the drama on this night, as UW-W got back within one, 71-70, on a Myles McKay (Menomonee Falls/Menomonee Falls) jumper at 0:47. Both teams failed to score on their next possession. Wash U rebounded a missed free throw and UW-W had to foul immediately to stop the clock, and Aaron Thompson hit both charity tosses with five seconds left. UW-W had a last shot, but a three missed.
Once again, the final stats mirror the close outcome. Wash U shot 48% from the field, UW-W 46%; Wash U was 8-20 from three point range, UW-W 8-21; WU made 9-13 free throws, UW-W 10-14; and UW-W out-rebounded Wash U just 32-31.
McKay, after scoring 30 in Friday's win over Elmhurst, led UW-W again, this time with 18 points. Goodwin added 16 and Mitchell 12 for UW-W. Goodwin also led the Warhawks with three assists, and five UW-W players grabbed five rebounds apiece. Washington University was topped by Thompson's game high 21 points, game high 10 rebounds, and game high 7 assists. Guard Sean Wallis added 20 points and five assists, and Tyler Nading scored 17 points while adding eight rebounds and five assists.
Washington University, 25-2, will continue in sectional play in the NCAA III tournament March 13-14.
UW-Whitewater ends the 2008-2009 season with a 23-6 record, the sixth time in seven years that head coach Pat Miller has guided the Warhawks to twenty or more wins. The 23 wins ties for sixth place in the UW-W record book. Kori Vernon (Madison/Memorial) ended his career with 108 games played in a Warhawk uniform, tied for sixth in the book. McKay scored 585 points this season, the ninth highest total in school history.
For additional information: Pat Miller, UW-W coach
