It’s only the first night of the 2010 NCAA Division III basketball tournament, but the madness has already begun.
Trailing by six points with less than two minutes remaining in the first round, it appeared the men’s basketball team’s NCAA tournament stay would be short lived.
But then the Warhawks caught fire and rattled off the game’s final 10 points enabling them to come-from-behind and defeat the Defiance Yellowjackets, 75-71, in Wooster, Ohio, Friday night.
UW-Whitewater, who received an at-large berth into the NCAA tournament, improves to 23-5, while Defiance’s season ends at 23-6.
The ’Hawks advance to the second round of the NCAA tournament for the second straight year after losing in the first round in 2008. They play Wooster College, who defeated Grove City College in the first round, Saturday at 7 p.m. for the right to go to the Sweet 16.
But like it has been the last few years, advancing to the second round has been no walk in the park.
The ’Hawks trailed by 10 points during the second half and found itself down in a deep hole, 71-65, with under two minutes remaining in the contest.
Junior guard Phil Negri, however, drilled a three-pointer to pull the ’Hawks within three at 1:32 to keep the hope alive.
Then, with 37 seconds left, senior center Dustin Mitchell, who was named the WIAC player of the year Thursday, connected on a three-pointer to tie the score at 71.
While Defiance had a chance to hold the ball for one shot, senior guard Dupree Fletcher, who was one of four UW-Whitewater players to score in double figures, created a turnover and drove down the court for a fast-break layup to put the ’Hawks ahead.
Now trailing by two, Defiance had another opportunity, but DJ Dantzler stole the ball and was then fouled be Defiance with one second remaining.
Dantzler made both free throws sealing the ’Hawks’ comeback.
UW-Whitewater trailed at halftime, 31-30, and two fouls by Mitchell, forward Mike Bendall, junior forward Chris Vines and sophomore forward Alex Edmunds limited the ’Hawks offensively.
UW-Whitewater lost last year in the second round of the NCAA tournament to Washington University, who went on to win the national championship.
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