Crimson Wave Wash Away #1 RMU in Overtime
Feb 09, 2012
By Calumet College of St. Joseph Sports Information
HAMMOND, Ind. - The small private school located off the Duneland shores of Lake Michigan made history on its home court Wednesday evening as Calumet College of St. Joseph (Ind.) upset the No. 1-ranked NAIA Division-I powerhouse Robert Morris (Ill.) (22-2), 92-85, in overtime. The victory marks the first time Calumet has defeated conference foe Robert Morris and a nationally-ranked NAIA Division I opponent.
Calumet (12-12¬) began the game with an immediate three-point lead before senior point guard Diante Watkins of RMU scored the first seven Golden Eagles' points to extend the early lead 7-3. The Eagles were beginning to soar in the first-half as they extended their lead over CCSJ to 12 points, 28-16, at the 10:42 mark.
However, the Crimson Wave would weather the early storm by RMU through good defense and a balanced offensive attack. CCSJ would go onto a 16-2 run and take the lead with five minutes remaining in the half, 32-30. The initial force from the Crimson Wave came from junior center Brannon Jones, who scored 11 first-half points to help establish Calumet's play inside the paint.
Senior C.J. Montgomery and sophomore Chris Diehl each sank two key 3-point buckets to help the Crimson Wave extend the team's lead to eleven, 46-35, as the half-time horn sounded.
The second half began with a quick assault by the Golden Eagles led again by Watkins (33 total points) and RMU counterpart Aubrey McAlpine (11 second-half points) to capture a one-point lead, 51-50, five minutes into the half. Calumet head coach Ryan Sexson looked to his bench for some extra effort and called upon sophomore guard Robert Jackson (12 second-half points) to help the Crimson Wave defuse the Golden Eagles scoring surge.
Jackson's ability to attack the rim provided a new option, while senior Karl Anderson attacked the glass relentlessly grabbing six second-half rebounds along with nine points. The game would sway back-and-forth during the final ten minutes of the game concluding with a 78-78 tie.
The Crimson Wave earned the first two points of OT by Jackson. RMU's Watkins answered to tie the game back to 80-80. Then the momentum shifted after a 3-pointer by sophomore Roddy Richardson. Senior Devon Key would hit the final key free throws to seal the victory.
Four Crimson Wave players finished the contest in double figures: Jackson (19 points), Richardson (18 points), Anderson (16 points) and Jones (15 points). As a team, CCSJ out-rebounded RMU, 54-37, with Anderson collecting 10 boards to lead all players.
HAMMOND, Ind. - The small private school located off the Duneland shores of Lake Michigan made history on its home court Wednesday evening as Calumet College of St. Joseph (Ind.) upset the No. 1-ranked NAIA Division-I powerhouse Robert Morris (Ill.) (22-2), 92-85, in overtime. The victory marks the first time Calumet has defeated conference foe Robert Morris and a nationally-ranked NAIA Division I opponent.
Calumet (12-12¬) began the game with an immediate three-point lead before senior point guard Diante Watkins of RMU scored the first seven Golden Eagles' points to extend the early lead 7-3. The Eagles were beginning to soar in the first-half as they extended their lead over CCSJ to 12 points, 28-16, at the 10:42 mark.
However, the Crimson Wave would weather the early storm by RMU through good defense and a balanced offensive attack. CCSJ would go onto a 16-2 run and take the lead with five minutes remaining in the half, 32-30. The initial force from the Crimson Wave came from junior center Brannon Jones, who scored 11 first-half points to help establish Calumet's play inside the paint.
Senior C.J. Montgomery and sophomore Chris Diehl each sank two key 3-point buckets to help the Crimson Wave extend the team's lead to eleven, 46-35, as the half-time horn sounded.
The second half began with a quick assault by the Golden Eagles led again by Watkins (33 total points) and RMU counterpart Aubrey McAlpine (11 second-half points) to capture a one-point lead, 51-50, five minutes into the half. Calumet head coach Ryan Sexson looked to his bench for some extra effort and called upon sophomore guard Robert Jackson (12 second-half points) to help the Crimson Wave defuse the Golden Eagles scoring surge.
Jackson's ability to attack the rim provided a new option, while senior Karl Anderson attacked the glass relentlessly grabbing six second-half rebounds along with nine points. The game would sway back-and-forth during the final ten minutes of the game concluding with a 78-78 tie.
The Crimson Wave earned the first two points of OT by Jackson. RMU's Watkins answered to tie the game back to 80-80. Then the momentum shifted after a 3-pointer by sophomore Roddy Richardson. Senior Devon Key would hit the final key free throws to seal the victory.
Four Crimson Wave players finished the contest in double figures: Jackson (19 points), Richardson (18 points), Anderson (16 points) and Jones (15 points). As a team, CCSJ out-rebounded RMU, 54-37, with Anderson collecting 10 boards to lead all players.
