VALPARAISO | In a rally that was a long time coming, Valparaiso took the lead for the first time in nearly 30 minutes on Keith Carter’s 3-pointer – and never gave it back.
After back-to-back layups by Sixth Man of the Year Jubril Adekoya pulled the Crusaders within two points, Carter drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the key with just under nine minutes to play to put Valparaiso ahead. The Crusaders never looked back in a 54-44 win over Green Bay.
It is Valparaiso’s second Horizon League title in the past three seasons. The Crusaders earn the conference’s automatic berth to the NCAA tournament.
“We are in awe right now, but we’re blessed,” Valapraiso coach Bryce Drew said. “We faced so much adversity … losing our starting point guard back in the fall and then losing our second point guard two games into conference play and then losing our two-guard in the last game. The heart of these guys and the determination of them and the togetherness of them is something you really try to get out of them and they make it easy.
“They’re a special group and I feel blessed to coach them.”
Valparaiso took an early lead on E. Victor Nickerson’s 3-pointer less than two minutes into the game. Keifer Sykes answered with a layup and Green Bay led for almost 30 minutes before Valparaiso’s rally finally came to fruition.
The Phoenix lead reached 10 points, 25-15, at the 2:00 minute mark in the first half. Valparaiso’s lead reached 10 points, 54-44, with just under eight seconds left in the game.
The Crusaders hit seven of 10 free throws down the stretch to secure the win.
“We may have had a few teammates banged up but we’ve got to keep fighting,” Alec Peters said. “That’s the great part about this team. They never stop fighting.”
Keifer Sykes led all scorers with 14 points for Green Bay. The Horizon League Player of the Year was the lone double-digit scorer for the Phoenix.
“We made the effort plays, but we went ice cold [shooting-wise],” Green Bay coach Brian Wardle said. “That’s the story of the game – and turnovers. [Valparaiso is] the No. 1 defense in the league and we’ve got to take better care of the basketball. They ended up with 17 points off turnovers and that was the key.”
Freshman forward David Skara led the Crusaders with 12 points off the bench, including two 3-pointers to keep the Crusaders in it during the half and a fast-break dunk to push the Valparaiso lead to five points with just under five minutes left in the game.
“David Skara hit some 3s for us and made some plays. It was a ‘feel’ thing,” Drew said. “That lineup had only played 17 seconds together … so we had to grind it out on both ends. If it’s a high-scoring game, I don’t think we win.”
Nickerson added 11 points for the Crusaders. Both Skara and Nickerson represented Valparaiso on the All-Tournament team, and Peters was named the Tournament MVP. Sykes and UIC’s Jay Harris were also honored.
“I feel totally undeserving. I couldn’t throw a rock into the ocean (Tuesday night),” Peters, who scored nine points, said with a laugh. “I give all the credit to God, my teammates [and] my coaches.
“We’re going to the tournament and we’re happy right now.”
