WOOSTER, Ohio – The Capital University men's basketball team saw its championship-winning 2011-12 season come to an end Saturday, falling at No. 15 Wooster 92-79 in the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament at Timken Gymnasium.
The Crusaders wrap up their season with a 19-10 overall record, having won the program's 11th Ohio Athletic Conference regular season title and the school's fourth OAC Tournament championship while reaching the NCAA Tournament for the 12th time. The team tied for first with a 13-5 mark in conference play and received the OAC's automatic bid to the NCAAs by virtue of their league tournament title.
The loss also ended the careers of seniors Tyler Munro (Lexington, Ohio) and Kelly Winter (Dublin, Ohio). Winter finished with 10 points and five rebounds, while Munro totaled six points.
"This is one of the closest teams I've ever been on," junior Michael Sommer said. "Kelly and Tyler did a great job of taking on their leadership roles. One of our mottos this season was 'give nothing', and those guys made sure we did that."
The Fighting Scots (26-4) advance to the Sweet 16, where they take on either No. 1 Hope (Mich.) or Illinois Wesleyan next weekend at a site to be determined.
Sommer (Celina, Ohio; at rigt) led Capital with 15 points, while junior Damon Dilliard (Columbus, Ohio) finished with 14, including 11 in the first half. Freshman Andrew Bolka (Xenia, Ohio) tallied 10 points, all in the second half. Junior Spencer Niekamp (St. Henry, Ohio; bottom left) grabbed a team-best seven rebounds.
Wooster shot 52.6 percent from the field and knocked down 23-of-30 from the free throw line, while Capital shot 42.4 percent and made 18-of-32 from the free throw line.
In the first half, the Crusaders shot 48 percent from the field and 50 percent from 3-point range, but were outrebounded 21-11, including 8-3 on the offensive glass.
After Winter knocked down a pair of jumpers to start the contest, Wooster put together an 11-0 run to take a seven-point advantage at the 15:24 mark. A 3-pointer by Dillard tied the game at 24-24 with 8:01 to play in the period.
The Fighting Scots ended the half on a 19-8 run, taking advantage of several put-backs to take a 43-32 lead into the locker room.
Wooster continued its run in the second half, taking a 52-33 advantage with 17:20 on the clock to force a Crusader timeout. From there, Capital got no closer than 13 points despite the hot shooting of Sommer and the fine play of several reserves.
"Wooster put together a couple of stretches, once in the first half and then early in the second, and we knew we couldn't give them runs like that," Capital coach Damon Goodwin said. "Wooster really played at a high level, both offensively and defensively."
The Crusaders last played Wooster in the NCAA Tournament in 2009, when they knocked off the Fighting Scots 72-70 in the second round on a game-winning jumper by former standout D.J. Frazier with one second left. That contest was played at the Capital Center in Columbus.
Capital returns four starters and several other key contributors next season, and should be poised for another deep run in 2012-13.
"Coach has done a great job with our game plans," said Dillard, who will return as a senior next year. "We bought into the system, and with Kelly and Tyler, we are like a brotherhood … we are a unit."
The Crusaders wrap up their season with a 19-10 overall record, having won the program's 11th Ohio Athletic Conference regular season title and the school's fourth OAC Tournament championship while reaching the NCAA Tournament for the 12th time. The team tied for first with a 13-5 mark in conference play and received the OAC's automatic bid to the NCAAs by virtue of their league tournament title.
The loss also ended the careers of seniors Tyler Munro (Lexington, Ohio) and Kelly Winter (Dublin, Ohio). Winter finished with 10 points and five rebounds, while Munro totaled six points.
"This is one of the closest teams I've ever been on," junior Michael Sommer said. "Kelly and Tyler did a great job of taking on their leadership roles. One of our mottos this season was 'give nothing', and those guys made sure we did that."
The Fighting Scots (26-4) advance to the Sweet 16, where they take on either No. 1 Hope (Mich.) or Illinois Wesleyan next weekend at a site to be determined.
Sommer (Celina, Ohio; at rigt) led Capital with 15 points, while junior Damon Dilliard (Columbus, Ohio) finished with 14, including 11 in the first half. Freshman Andrew Bolka (Xenia, Ohio) tallied 10 points, all in the second half. Junior Spencer Niekamp (St. Henry, Ohio; bottom left) grabbed a team-best seven rebounds.
Wooster shot 52.6 percent from the field and knocked down 23-of-30 from the free throw line, while Capital shot 42.4 percent and made 18-of-32 from the free throw line.
In the first half, the Crusaders shot 48 percent from the field and 50 percent from 3-point range, but were outrebounded 21-11, including 8-3 on the offensive glass.
After Winter knocked down a pair of jumpers to start the contest, Wooster put together an 11-0 run to take a seven-point advantage at the 15:24 mark. A 3-pointer by Dillard tied the game at 24-24 with 8:01 to play in the period.
The Fighting Scots ended the half on a 19-8 run, taking advantage of several put-backs to take a 43-32 lead into the locker room.
Wooster continued its run in the second half, taking a 52-33 advantage with 17:20 on the clock to force a Crusader timeout. From there, Capital got no closer than 13 points despite the hot shooting of Sommer and the fine play of several reserves.
"Wooster put together a couple of stretches, once in the first half and then early in the second, and we knew we couldn't give them runs like that," Capital coach Damon Goodwin said. "Wooster really played at a high level, both offensively and defensively."
The Crusaders last played Wooster in the NCAA Tournament in 2009, when they knocked off the Fighting Scots 72-70 in the second round on a game-winning jumper by former standout D.J. Frazier with one second left. That contest was played at the Capital Center in Columbus.
Capital returns four starters and several other key contributors next season, and should be poised for another deep run in 2012-13.
"Coach has done a great job with our game plans," said Dillard, who will return as a senior next year. "We bought into the system, and with Kelly and Tyler, we are like a brotherhood … we are a unit."
