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OT loss dims men's regular season title hopes
 Media Credit: Blair Schlichte/Staff Photographer SCSU senior forward Rado Rancik goes up for the shot against an Augustana defender on Friday. Rancik scored 14 points and had 10 rebounds, his first double-double of the season.
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Everything was in place this time. Everything was set up perfectly for the SCSU men's basketball team to win a dramatic North Central Conference game Saturday night at a loud Halenbeck Hall against another nationally ranked opponent. But things like inadvertent trips, or the basketball not bouncing the right way got in the way of the Huskies' chances in their 90-82 heartbreaking loss in overtime against No. 14 South Dakota State.
SCSU (16-4, 8-4 NCC) had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation with 5.3 seconds remaining. The ball was inbound to Forrest Witt, who, as he was trying to make his move towards the basket, was tripped up on the play. His desperate shot fell short of the hoop, and the game headed into overtime tied at 73 apiece.
In the extra session, the Jackrabbits were at their finest. The two teams traded baskets to start the period, but after that it was all SDSU. Matt Jones, Derrick Schantz and Andy Moeller baskets gave the Jacks a 81-75 advantage.
Rado Rancik cut the lead to four with two free throws at 81-77. However, a Jones putback jam and free throws down the stretch iced the game for the Jacks.
"We just wanted to try and get the ball to the hoop," Witt said of the play that would have won the game in regulation. "We wanted to penetrate and try to kick the ball to the open man. I didn't get through and they played good defense."
"They came out right away in overtime and took that lead and we never recovered from that. They did a good job of sealing it."
SCSU shot a frigid 32.6 percent for the game. Worst of all, they shot 27.3 percent in overtime when they needed their offense the most. The Jacks had hot shooting from the start and never relinquished from the field. They shot 53.8 percent for the game.
The Huskies stayed in the game by out-rebounding the Jacks on the offensive boards, 22-8. St. Cloud also outscored SDSU on second chance points by a margin of 28-9. For the game, the Huskies out-rebounded their opponents 48-47.
One reason for the outstanding performance on the glass was the play of senior forward Rancik. He had a career high 20 boards, 10 of those coming on the offensive end. He finished with 20 points, and also led his team with four blocks, and four assists. He seemed like a man possessed from the start of the game, but it was all in vain as SCSU came up short.
"It was one of those games where you had to put everything on the line," Rancik said. "Rebounding was our focus all week long. This weekend we did what we practiced. We had to get better on the glass. We're too good of a team to get beaten on the boards like we have most of the season."
"They hit their shots in overtime, and we didn't hit on the opposite end. They hit a shot, we miss, they hit another one, we miss, and that was the ball game right there."
Witt led the Huskies with 22 points on the night, but he also had six turnovers. Senior Jonny Reese added 15 points. Junior forward Jason Kron chipped in with 12 points and nine boards.
SDSU's junior guard Austin Hansen started the game on a tear, and his reign of terror didn't stop until Kron started defending him late in the second half. Hansen finished with 23 points and nine boards, and he only missed four shots all night. Freshmen center Matt Jones had 20 points and led his team with 12 rebounds. Point guard Andy Moeller added 15 points and four steals for the Jacks.
The Jackrabbits took control of the first half with their hot shooting, and had their biggest lead of the game, 31-20, with 3:46 left in the half. Still, SCSU came back with a vengeance. Jonny Reese hit a three right before the horn sounded to get the Huskies within three at 38-35.
"Why we shot 30 percent for the game, I don't know," head coach Kevin Schlagel said after the game. "We have good shooters, we get good looks, we don't hit them. Unfortunately, we're going through this cycle where we can't hit shots."
"This was a game of hustle plays where every tipped ball or loose ball counted. They just had the ball bounce their way."
On Friday, the men had a little more swagger in their step as they trounced Augustana, 83-68. Early in the second half, the Vikings pulled to within 35-34 with 15:34 left. However, after that, it was all SCSU.
Kron had his third double-double of the year. He finished with a season-high 23 points and led the team with 13 rebounds. Rancik had his first double-double of the year as he finished with 14 points and 10 boards. Reese also added 22 points.
Augustana was led by by Matt Wilber, who had 21 points. Jon Wagner chipped in 19, and Sean Hilgenberg 13.
SCSU punished the Vikes on the boards, with an advantage of 46-23. With this newfound edge on the glass, all the Huskies need now is to relocate their shooting touch, something that cost them a chance at a huge win versus South Dakota State. The loss now drops SCSU three and a half games behind the Jacks for the conference lead. It also leaves little hope for a regular season NCC title.
Andy Rennecke can be reached at: [email protected]
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