White nails late three to send Duhawks to 2nd round
Jon Denham, Sports Information Director
March 7, 2008

Photo courtesy Larry Radloff/D3hoops.com

BOXSCORE

BRACKET

NCAA Story: Courtesy UWW

WHITEWATER, WI -
There are many adjectives for Kyle White's accolades as a member of the Loras College men's basketball team and as a person. On Saturday, no word better describes his performance than clutch.

For the second straight weekend, on the biggest stage, White made basket after basket to propel the Duhawks and prolong the 2007-2008 season. Amidst chants of "MVP" from the fans, the two-time IIAC Most Valuable Player delivered his second straight final 20 minutes of dominant basketball.

For the night, the senior from Antioch, Illinois made 12-16 shots, including three from long distance to push Loras past host #2 UW-Whitewater 71-70. With under ten seconds remaining, trailing 70-68, and fresh off a Ricky Kolze steal, head coach Greg Gorton called White's number for the potential tying or go-ahead basket. Kyle delivered with a pull-up right-handed three-point jumper that will go down in Loras College basketball history.

The go-ahead basket led to a final second flurry, as the Warhawks finished the game without a timeout as well. The WIAC's MVP Matt Goodwin was forced to pass at the top of the key with in-your-face defense by Luke Slater (who had been the point man of the Duhawks matchup zone defense down the stretch of the second half). The Warhawks fate was left in the hands of guard Kevin Koski, who's game-winner glanced off the rim as the buzzer sounded.

An estimated 100 faithful Duhawk students stormed the court at the Williams Center to congratulate the victors as long faces swept through the home crowd.

Loras trailed by 10 points at the half after going 12-22 from the field. The Warhawks were just 13-23, but capitalized on six first half threes (four from Goodwin) and 7-9 free throws to claim the first half margin. White had 12 points and two rebounds in the opening frame, but the Duhawks managed just two assists and committed seven turnovers to the Warhawks five. Alex Brant filled in for Luke Slater, who was sidelined with two fouls, and scored four points, including a transition dunk that brought the Loras fans to their feet.

The second half saw Loras claw back from a 12 point deficit with 5-8 shooting from beyond the arc and hard fought layups in traffic. The defense stepped up with another inspired effort in the closing minutes. Whitewater didn't score in the final 2:16 courtesy of a Jake Oeth block and a Ricky Kolze steal. Brian Centella added 14 points (10 in the second half, including some of those layups in traffic) and Ricky Kolze added 11.

Loras won the rebounding battle 27-21, despite battling post players from Whitewater who measure 6-6, 6-7, and 6-9 on the roster. Loras also shot an impressive 59.6% from the field compared to an also-strong 52.1% by Whitewater. Warhawks guard Matt Goodwin, the WIAC MVP, was a nearly lethal 7-14 from the three-point arc, but missed three in the final five minutes. Some of those seven makes were from well-beyond the arc and never neared the rim. Myles McKay added 15 for Whitewater.

The Duhawks also benefited from the defensive change to the matchup 3-2 zone. After seeing Goodwin make so many jumpers, Gorton sent Luke Slater to the point of the setup at the top of the key to force any makes over a taller defender. The strategy paid off, and the Duhawks completed the comeback.

"He impresses me more and more every day," head coach Greg Gorton said about White after the game. "He just does everything we want him to."

"I stepped into the shot...coach said plant your feet and stroke it, and I let it fly," White remarked in the post game press conference. "It was what we talked about in the timeout before, if they missed, that was what we were going to do."

Loras advances to play the Wheaton College Thunder at 7:00 PM on Saturday night in Whitewater. In the second home game at the new Athletics & Wellness Center in Dubuque the Thunder won 69-62 on November 20th. White, Ricky Kolze, and Luke Slater tallied double-digit scoring for Loras that night. The 1-2 punch of Andy Wiele and Kent Raymond combined for 46 points and 18 rebounds.

Wheaton took Lawrence to overtime in the first half of the regional doubleheader, winning 93-83. Wiele, Raymond, and Ben Panner each had 20+ for the Thunder. Wiele was 12-17 from the floor and Raymond made 14-14 free throws.

Saturday night's game can be heard locally on WDBQ AM-1490 and worldwide via the Loras College website. Pregame will begin at 6:30.