TACOMA, Wash. -- The 2018 NCAA Division III champions came to down, as the Loggers dropped one late to Nebraska Wesleyan.
How it Happened
Defense was the name of the game today, as the Prairie Wolves took advantage with a junky zone all evening. It took over two minutes for the first bucket to be made, as the Prairie Wolves got the first points of the evening. Nebraska Wesleyan then went on a 6-1 run, knocking down a pair of threes to pull seven ahead. By the first media timeout, the Loggers were only down two, but a total of 14 points had been scored in just over five minutes.
The Loggers stayed playing catch-up, trading buckets with NWU.
Ian Cook got in on the action, securing a layup, and then drawing a foul a minute later to pull the Loggers back within one. A good three-pointer by
Beckett Turner and a layup by
Dezman Baker gave the Loggers their first lead of the day, making it 22-20 with five minutes left in the half.
The Prairie Wolves then took back the lead, but a 6-0 Logger run gave them their largest lead of the half. Up 28-24, a couple of turnovers and a 6-0 NWU run put the Loggers down two at half, as the two defenses kept the score close.
Cook got the second half started with a tough and-one, knocking down the free throw to reclaim the lead. NWU took that and responded with a 10-0 run of their own, but the Loggers weren't out of it yet. A
Trevon Hamilton three and a pair of free throws by Turner and Baker pulled the Loggers right back into the game.
Another run by the Prairie Wolves extended the lead back to 10, but the Loggers responded yet again. This time,
Ian Cook made a couple of good buckets in the paint, adding to another Hamilton three to make it 46-49.
Both teams then traded buckets, as the score got tight towards the end of the game. Cook made another two free throws, laying it in to tie the score at 59. NWU made a jumper after that, but the Loggers couldn't find any points in the final two possessions of the game. Two free throws sealed it, as the Loggers drop this one 63-59.
Top Performers
Cook led all scoring with 19, while Hamilton also had double-digit scoring, dropping 12. Hugo Rutherford was a force around the rim, grabbing 10 rebounds.
What Happens Next
The Loggers cap off their homestand with a game against Dallas, November 22nd, at 5:00 PM.
