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Game Reaction: Wade Chitwood

ST. PAUL -- As “The Final Countdown” played over the gymnasium sound system late in the game, Northwestern College came through in a crucial moment, overcoming a one-point deficit in the last minute to beat Luther College 74-72 on Friday night. Wade Chitwood (Grinnell, Iowa/Grinnell) had a historic night, scoring 31 points as the Eagles shot 52 percent from the field and an astounding 71 percent from behind the three-point line.

Both teams made over half of their baskets in the first half with neither really gaining an edge in the first half. Leads of two and three turned into four and five, but not until Chitwood and Tom Gisler (Stewartville, Minn./Stewartville) hit back-to-back threes in the final 2:14 of the first period did Northwestern really gain a strong advantage on the scoreboard. Gisler's trey with 1:18 left in the half gave the Eagles a six-point lead, but Luther's Tim Merritt cut it to four on a jumper before the period came to a close.

More back-and-forth basketball ensued in the early goings of the second half until Chitwood singlehandedly went on a 12-0 run to give the Eagles a 58-47 advantage with 12:20 to play. The Norse responded with a run of their own, shrinking Northwestern's buffer to just three points in a matter of four minutes.  Dane Larson's shot from downtown brought his team even closer, with NWC clinging to a one-point lead. Chitwood drained another three to make the margin four, but Zach Matos and Merritt each made baskets as Luther regained control at 72-71 with 1:29 to go. Gisler picked up a crucial offensive rebound and turned it into a made lay-up before a Chitwood free throw sealed the deal at 74-72.

Northwestern was an identical 13-25 (52 percent) shooting in each half, while Luther, an NCAA Tournament team and the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's (IIAC) unanimous favorite, finished 31-59 (53 percent).  The Norse out-scored NWC 36-16 in the paint, but the Eagles made up for it with their hot hands from the outside.

Chitwood made 10 of his 17 shots, including all five of his attempts from downtown. Gisler added 16 points as he also made all of his three-point shots. Ethan Benton (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Linn-Mar), who was matched up against 6-9 John Wedermeier much of the night, scored eight points while leading the team with eight rebounds.

Merritt led Luther (6-2) with 18 points, while Matos and John Androus had 14 and 12, respectively.

With the win, Northwestern creeps back to .500 at 4-4 overall. The Eagles will rest up over the weekend before tackling their biggest week of the nonconference schedule next week. NWC will face North Central University in Minneapolis on Tuesday night (7:30 p.m. tip-off) before flying west to face Whitman and Whitworth Colleges in Spokane, Wash. on Saturday and Sunday. Whitworth is currently ranked sixth in the nation by D3hoops.com.