Despite 42 From McCollum, Leafs Fall To #8 USF
February 6, 2010
GOSHEN, Ind. – For the third-consecutive home game, the Goshen College men’s basketball team faced an opponent ranked in the NAIA DII Top 10. Unfortunately, it also become the third-straight time at home that the Maple Leafs could not quite get over the hump.
The loss also make the Leafs potential path to host a first round Mid-Central College Conference game very difficult. It puts them two games back of Spring Arbor for the fourth and final home playoff spot.
“With the loss, we know we are probably going to have to play on the road in the tournament,” third-year head coach Gary Chupp said. “We still have a lot to play for though and have to bring our best defensive energy each time out.”
Goshen missed its first seven field goal attempts of the half as they immediately found themselves down 9-0. Saint Francis continued to take advantage of the Leafs early offensive struggles as they built as much as a 13-point lead nine minutes into the contest.
Goshen came roaring back, though, eventually using an 8-0 run to take their first lead of the game at 34-33 with 1:45 remaining in the opening period. With the score tied 36-36 twenty seconds later, senior Errick McCollum II drove the lane for a basket-and-one and junior Daniel Butler II gave the Leafs a five-point lead with a jumper.
After Saint Francis responded, freshman Kyle Davis nailed a shot as the first-half buzzer sounded to send Goshen into the locker rooms with a 43-38 advantage. The outstanding final 10 minutes of the half helped the Leafs to a 53% shooting percentage in the half.
The lead quickly evaporated in the second half, though, as Saint Francis took control with a 15-4 streak of their own.
“They played well in the second half and really shot the lights out,” added Chupp. “DeJovaun (Sawyer-Davis) only scored eight points, but they all came at a key two to three minute stretch. That was the difference in the game.”
“The start of both halves were carbon copies of our game at their place,” Chupp continued. “We missed several lay ups and dug holes that were tough to recover from.”
The Cougars were able to increase their advantage to as many as nine at the halfway point before the Leafs again made a run. They managed to trim the deficit to two points with 3:07 to play, but a Joey Koriarek 3-pointer gave Saint Francis space again and they took advantage, hitting free throws down the stretch to hold on for the 96-81 victory.
Despite the loss, senior Errick McCollum II had a near career night. The 6-foot-1 guard has averaged 29 points a game against the Cougars in his career and came one short of his career high with 42 tonight. McCollum hit 13-of-22 from the field and 12-of-12 from the free throw line. Junior Daniel Butler II was also in double figures for the Leafs with 10 points to go with a team high nine rebounds.
