NCC 80
Millikin 69

Ameli Sanchez took a page out of Kennedy Hartwig's book and broke a 49-all tie after three quarters with a four point play to spark an 8-0 run and the Cardinals were able to put the Big Blue away down in Decatur. When you score 27 points off 23 turnovers (including 13 steals, all while allowing just four off 10 yourself), you're usually gonna have a good time.

Kennedy Hartwig: 24 pts, 4 reb
Ameli Sanchez: 16 pts
Jocelyn Trotter: 6 pts, 9 reb, 4 stl

Bella Dudley: 19 pts, 5 reb
Izzy Hay: 11 pts, 8 reb
Nikkel Johnson: 11 pts, 7 reb

NCC was without Biz Daly tonight; not sure what was going on there, but I'll take a win at the Griswold Center, especially since this is Maggie McCloskey-Bax's first in her tenure at North Central. The last Cardinal win in Decatur came during the final System season under Michelle Roof in 2016-17.

NCC 82
Carroll 78 (OT)

In today's episode of Taylor Janssen Hates Playing in Naperville, NCC led for most of the contest, but did not take a dreaded double digit lead, though their highest cushion of nine was immediately cut into by the Pioneers. And yet despite that, Carroll missed seven of their 19 second half free throws. Despite that, NCC still couldn't put the Pios away in regulation. Tre Davis hit a three to put NCC up four with just under a minute left, but taunted the guy guarding him to earn a tech. Then after Tyler Surin broke a 63-all tie with a deep three with under 20 seconds to go, the Cardinals stupidly fouled Michael McNabb on a layup, which he turned into a three point play to tie the game with under 10 seconds left. NCC had a shot to end it in regulation, but Alejandro Diaz missed from the baseline and we got free basketball. NCC never trailed in the extra stanza, and even wised up at the end of overtime by fouling up three and benefitting from the intentional second miss not even coming close to hitting the rim.

Alejandro Diaz: 16 pts, 5 ast, 3 stl (missed basically all of overtime with an injury; he said he was "good" postgame, but was noticably limping)
Justin Sveiteris: 14 pts, 6 reb
Tyler Surin: 10 pts, 9 reb

Michael McNabb: 29 pts
Lamar Smith: 14 pts, 6 reb, 3 blk
Dennis Estepp: 10 pts

All four favorites winners tonight. Three at home and Oshkosh picks up a win at Eau Claire.

At the Shirk, IWU over pesky Millikin, 72-62.  Always makes one nervous when it looks like the Titans will play in the 50s or 60s.  IWU had only 22 points at the half, and roared back with 50 in the second half to get into the 70s.

For MU:
Thomann 17 and 11
Straughter 16

MU at 43%/33% from three/ 73% from the FT line


For IWU:

Cleveland 19 and 8
Colak 17 and 8
Lawrence 16
Neigo 9 and 5:2 A:TOs
Funk 8 with 5 blocks

IWU at 37%/ 30% from three/74% from the FT line.

IWU takes the lead in the CCIW race at 6-2.

IWU at Carroll on Saturday.


'70

Up in Kenosha, IWU over Carthage, 74-52

For Carthage:

Green 23

Outrebounded 44-30.  Shooting 36%/24% from three/ 50% from the FT line


For IWU:

For #22, Ava Bardic 22 and 7
IWU finding a new offensive weapon in Leah Palmer 19 and 9
Leyden 15 and 9

IWU shooting 44%/33% from three/ 75% from the charity stripe.


IWU moves to 8-0 in the first go'round of CCIW league play. 

Big game on Saturday vs. 7-1 Carroll @Carroll.



IWU'70

Trine 88 Calvin 68

The Thunder shoot a blistering 72% from the field in the second half to pull away from the Knights after leading by 4 points at halftime.  I was lamenting about Trine's lack of defense in December but they probably played their best defensive game of the year tonight.  We made things tough on Overway, every time he touched the ball we ran a second guy at him, and then he collected all 5 of his fouls in the second half and was visibly frustrated with the refs on a few of the calls.  The game certainly was choppy with the teams combining for 48 fouls and 57 free throw attempts, but both Calvin and Trine shot it well at the line with Calvin at 82% and Trine at 86%.  One of the keys to the game I thought was the depth of Trine's bench as we outscored Calvin 27-0.

Trine: Bradshaw 17, McKenzie 17, Tucker 15, Brenner 15
Calvin: Winkle 18, McIllwain, 16, Overway 15, Ressler 12

Big games coming up Saturday with Hope hosting Calvin and Olivet hosting Trine.  Hope is 5-0 in conference play with Calvin, Olivet and Trine all at 4-1.

Mount Union drops from the unbeatens at Heidelberg 76-83

George Fox is no longer winless vs D3 after winning in OT vs Pacific 111-107

Week ending 11/16
M1: FCGG - Randolph-Macon - ODAC
T2: NCF - Trinity, CT. - NESCAC
W3: Greek - Redlands - SCIAC
R4: Greek - Tufts - NESCAC
F5: NCF - Emory - UAA
Sa6: FCGG - UW-La Crosse - WIAC
Su: Free Agent Day

Week ending 11/23
M7: NCF - Chris Newport - C2C
T8: Greek - Chicago - UAA
W9: FCGG - WashU - UAA
R10: FCGG - Illinois Wesleyan - CCIW
F11: Greek - Mary Washington - C2C
Sa12: NCF - Calvin - MIAA
Su: Free Agent Day

Week ending 11/30
M13: Greek - St. Thomas - SCAC
T14: FCGG - Mount Union* - OAC
W15: NCF - Hampden-Sydney- ODAC
R16: NCF - Oshkosh* - WIAC
F17: FCGG - Hood* - MACC
Sa18: Greek - Catholic - LAND
Su: Free Agent Day

Week ending 12/7
M19: FCGG - NYU - UAA
T20: NCF - Roanoke - ODAC
W21: Greek - Montclair St - NJAC
R22: Greek - Johns Hopkins* - CC
F23: NCF - Virginia Wesleyan* - ODAC
Sa24: FCGG - UW-Whitewater* - WIAC
Su: Free Agent Day

Week ending 12/14
M25: NCF - Carnegie Mellon* - UAA
T26: Greek - York Pa - MACC
W27: FCGG - Oswego St* - SUNYAC
R28: FCGG - Claremont-Mudd-Scripps - SCIAC
F29: Greek - WPI - NEWMAC
Sa30: NCF - Hope* - MIAA
Su: Free Agent Day

Week ending 12/21
M31: Greek - Trinity (TX)* - SAA
T32: FCGG - Gustavus Adolphus* - MIAC
W33: NCF - Muskingum* - OAC
R34: NCF - Maryville, TN* - CCS
F35: FCGG - Wesleyan - NESCAC
Sa36: Greek - Whitworth* - NWC
Su: Free Agent Day

Week ending 12/28
M37: FCGG - Endicott* - CNE
T38: NCF - DePauw* - NCAC
W39. Greek - Stevens Point* - WIAC
R40: Greek - Webster* - SLIAC
F41: NCF - Colby - NESCAC
Sa42: FCGG - Bates* - NESCAC
Su: Free Agent Day

Week ending 1/4
M43: NCF - Carthage - CCIW
T44: Greek - Pitt-Greensburg* - AMCC
W45: FCGG - UW-Platteville - WIAC
R46: FCGG - Scranton* - Land
F47: Greek - Maine- Farmington* - NAC
Sa48: NCF - Penn State - Behrend*- AMCC
Su: Free Agent Day

Week ending 1/11
M49: Greek - St Norbert - NACC
T50: FCGG - Mary Hardin-Baylor* - ASC
W51: NCF - Millsaps* - SAA
R52: NCF - Salve Regina* - NEWMAC
F53: FCGG - Otterbein* - OAC
Sa54: Greek - Franklin & Marshall - CC
Su: Free Agent Day

Week ending 1/18
M55: FCGG - Union* - LL
T56: NCF - Amherst* - NESCAC
W57: Greek - Concordia (TX)* - SCAC
R58: Greek - Monmouth* - MWC
F59: NCF - Wheaton, Il* - CCIW
Sa60: FCGG - Farmingdale St* - Sky
Su: Free Agent Day

Week ending 1/25
M61: NCF - Augsburg* - MIAC
T62: Greek - Washington & Jefferson* - PAC
W63: FCGG - Lehman* - CUNYAC
R64: FCGG -
F65: Greek -
Sa66: NCF -
Su: Free Agent Day

Week ending 2/1
M67: Greek
T68: FCGG
W69: NCF
R70: NCF
F71: FCGG
Sa72: Greek
Su: Free Agent Day

Quote from: hsbsballcoach7 on Yesterday at 07:32:50 PM

Quote from: Dr. Acula on Yesterday at 06:46:57 PM

Quote from: D3fanboy on Yesterday at 02:05:58 PMa very tall member of the Mount Union coaching staff, who may or may not have played in the NFL has applied and is actively going after the Louisville HS coaching job that Kappas just left...at least that's what sources have said

Probably a safer option than bringing back Farrah since DeMarco has a good thing going at NW.  And yes, I know this is a total Stark county lifer post LOL.

Lol... As good as the teams were with Farrah, I'm not sure he'd be welcomed back and Demarco was passed over so many times in Louisville, so I doubt he'd go back. Louisville is a different place....

Does Miller feel passed over or looking for an opportunity to lead his own program?

He applied for the Dover job last year as well, went to another Raider Matt Rees

Quote from: BaboNation on Yesterday at 06:28:27 PM

Quote from: Bucket on January 20, 2026, 05:09:24 PM

Quote from: NEhoops on January 20, 2026, 03:55:52 PMJust connected the dots that Shane Regan, an all-American last year at Wesleyan, is playing at Chicago and they are currently ranked #2 in the country per the latest D3 Hoops poll. Are there any other former NESCAC players that are thriving in other conferences? Who are the players that have transferred into the NESCAC that are making an impact this year?

Regarding the Williams program - Maker taking the job at Marist was a huge blow. He is arguably the best recruiter/offensive mind in the last 20+ years. 

Yes, but he was not long for Williams either way. He was already seeing the lack of institutional support. The bigger NESCAC what-if/screw-up was at Amherst, with the admin selecting Spears over Maker. Imagine the Lord Mammoths now if they had made the correct hire!

I've got no skin in this, but the logic seems inconsistent.  Maker was seeing a lack of support at Williams, but his radar wasn't tracking anything like that going on at Amherst?  Why would he want to throw his hat in the ring? Isn't the support at Amherst (from what I've read) far less than what it was for most of Hixon's tenure?

That was not at as apparent when he interviewed following Hixon's retirement. Also, he had been fired by Marist and had not landed his next gig yet when he interviewed (and was a finalist) for the Amherst job.