Feb. 29, 2008

Stats

HOLLAND, Mich. - The Adrian College men's basketball team played a spectacular first half at Hope College in the MIAA Tournament Semifinals before falling 83-68 ending their season with an 11-15 record. The Flying Dutchmen did not particularly like the fact that they led 33-32 at intermission only after Derek VanSolkema drained a half-court shot off the glass as time expired in the opening 20 minutes. Hope came out in the second half and used a 20-5 run in the first eight minutes to secure their place in the tournament finals against bitter rival Calvin College on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Desmond Young carried the Bulldogs on his back in the first half scoring 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting including 2-of-2 from the arc. Ian Weber also had a fine first half with six points and eight rebounds. Adrian shot 51.9 percent in the first 20 minutes while Hope shot 44.8 percent and were 4-of-8 from the arc.

Weber finished his career with a 15-point, 12-rebound game against a much bigger frontline for the Flying Dutchmen. Weber was 7-of-10 shooting from the field and also had three steals in 32 minutes. Young was double-teamed frequently in the second half scoring eight points on 1-of-4 shooting from the floor. The biggest stat of the night probably came in the points off turnovers department as Hope turned 20 Bulldog miscues into 31 points. Adrian forced just eight turnovers and scored just four points.

The Bulldogs trailed 56-37 at the 12:08 mark after the Flying Dutchmen barrage and managed to get as close as 11 points away for the rest of the game. Marcus Vanderheide and Tyler Wolfe, both seniors, played very well for Hope. Vanderheide scored 24 points on 9-of-16 shooting and Wolfe scored 18 points including 16 in the second half on 6-of-7 shooting from the field. He also went 4-of-6 from the arc as Hope shot 9-of-23 from the arc for the contest. Adrian shot 48 percent for the game (24-of-50) and were 8-of-21 (.381) from the arc.