Box Score

WHITEWATER, Wis. – The Northwestern men's basketball team made a quicker exit from the NCAA Division III Tournament than hoped for as the Eagles lost to third-ranked Wisconsin-Whitewater 79-55 on the Warhawks' home court at Kachel Gymnasium. The Eagles were held to 38 percent shooting while watching Whitewater make 51 percent of its baskets and nine of 19 three-point attempts.



Whitewater scored the first four points of the game, but Northwestern returned fire with a Michael Carney (Ames, Iowa/Des Moines Christian) three-pointer and consecutive baskets from Matt Watnemo (Moorhead, Minnesota/Moorhead High School) and Kyle Ooms (Hollandale, MN/Albert Lea High School) to lead by one. Ooms was fouled heading into the game's first media timeout and completed the three-point play to push the margin to two points in the Eagles' favor. That lead quickly diminished as Reggie Hearn started a Whitewater push that gave the home team their original lead back after a 10-10 tie. As the Warhawks continued to score under the hoop, UNW was able to hang in the game with a Steven Willey (Fort Calhoun, Neb./Fort Calhoun) three-pointer and a put-back dunk from Ooms after the sophomore grabbed an offensive rebound. The Warhawks responded with an 8-0 run, going from a one-point buffer to eight in a matter of just under four minutes. Eight became 12 thanks to threes from Whitewater's Cody Odegaard and Alex Merg. Clay Stevens was good for the Warhawks' fourth trey of the half, officially sending the two teams into their respective locker rooms with UW-W leading 39-24 at the break.

Instead of Whitewater's lead shrinking as the second half began, the advantage widened as Warhawks point guard Quardell Young turned a few Eagles mistakes into fast break layups to lead by 20 before five minutes had ticked off the clock. It didn't get any better for UNW the rest of the way out as the Eagles were never able to close the gap for the remainder of the game. Northwestern head coach started to go to the deepest parts of his bench with three minutes left on the clock before the host-Warhawks officially advanced to Saturday's second round with a 24-point win.

Northwestern certainly didn't have its best shooting performance of the night at 38 percent with the Eagles going just 8-25 from downtown throughout the game. On the other end of the court, Whitewater finished with just under a 52 percent rate while making nine of 19 three-point attempts.

Willey made three three-pointers in the game, finishing the night with a Northwestern-best 13 points and four assists to wrap up his career in an Eagles uniform. Michael Carney (Ames, Iowa/Des Moines Christian) added 11 points in the loss.

The Warhawks had three players score in double figures, two of which were good for double-doubles. Reggie Hearn gave UNW a challenge with his 6-6, 235 lbs. frame and was good for 16 points and 11 rebounds. 42 of Whitewater's 79 points came in the paint.

Northwestern's 2013-2014 season comes to a close at 16-12 after the Eagles won the program's 25th Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) regular season championship and the 11th in head coach Tim Grosz's 14 years as head coach. While the Eagles have been to four consecutive NCAA Tournaments, UNW is still in search of its first program in the big dance.

For information about Northwestern men's basketball throughout the season, stay tuned to unweagles.com.