2008 Woodie Awards
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Men s Basketball begins season on rocky road
Corey Kempf and Shaniece Taylor
Issue date: 12/10/03 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 2 next >
On November 21, the Lakeland men's basketball team opened their season by traveling to Kentucky for a tournament at Transylvania University, where they lost a tough game against DePauw in the first round. Lakeland led 36-35 at halftime, but DePauw outscored the Muskies 44-41 in the second half. Senior Cory Nickel's free throw made it 79-77 with 23 seconds to go, but on Lakeland's final possession, he was called for charging with two seconds left in the game while driving to the basket.
In this game, the Muskies were led by the strong inside play of senior Morten Smiedowicz and Junior Eric Wilbee. Smiedowicz scored 29 points, and grabbed six rebounds, while Wilbee added 13 points and eight boards. Nickel added 17 points, while four DePauw players were in double figures.
After losing the first game, they played the next day against Transylvania on November 22. The Muskies dropped the consolation game to the host, 79-64. The star of Friday's game, Morten Smiedowicz, played less than five minutes in the game before being ejected for a flagrant technical foul.
The Pioneers were led by Riley O'Neal with 27 points, including five of the team's 10 three-pointers. Bryan Howard added another 14 points and seven rebounds for the Pioneers.
For the Muskies, Cory Nickel, who played all but one minute of the game, scored 17 points. Junior guard Ryan Hiir added 16 points and seven rebounds, and Eric Wilbee contributed 10 points and five rebounds. Overall, the Muskies were hurt by frigid shooting in the second half. They shot just 30.3 percent from the field and only 20 percent behind the arc.
On November 26, they traveled to Lake Forest, Illinois where bad luck struck at the end of their game. After missed free throws by the Muskies, Forester forward Eric Mcdonald connected with two seconds left in the game to down Lakeland, 68-67.
The Muskies led 67-64 with 20 seconds remaining when senior guard Cory Nickel missed two free throws with a chance to seal the game. The Foresters responded by making a lay-up with 10 seconds left, making the score 67-66.
In this game, the Muskies were led by the strong inside play of senior Morten Smiedowicz and Junior Eric Wilbee. Smiedowicz scored 29 points, and grabbed six rebounds, while Wilbee added 13 points and eight boards. Nickel added 17 points, while four DePauw players were in double figures.
After losing the first game, they played the next day against Transylvania on November 22. The Muskies dropped the consolation game to the host, 79-64. The star of Friday's game, Morten Smiedowicz, played less than five minutes in the game before being ejected for a flagrant technical foul.
The Pioneers were led by Riley O'Neal with 27 points, including five of the team's 10 three-pointers. Bryan Howard added another 14 points and seven rebounds for the Pioneers.
For the Muskies, Cory Nickel, who played all but one minute of the game, scored 17 points. Junior guard Ryan Hiir added 16 points and seven rebounds, and Eric Wilbee contributed 10 points and five rebounds. Overall, the Muskies were hurt by frigid shooting in the second half. They shot just 30.3 percent from the field and only 20 percent behind the arc.
On November 26, they traveled to Lake Forest, Illinois where bad luck struck at the end of their game. After missed free throws by the Muskies, Forester forward Eric Mcdonald connected with two seconds left in the game to down Lakeland, 68-67.
The Muskies led 67-64 with 20 seconds remaining when senior guard Cory Nickel missed two free throws with a chance to seal the game. The Foresters responded by making a lay-up with 10 seconds left, making the score 67-66.