News Release

KENOSHA, Wis. — The Carthage College men’s basketball team (3-1, 0-0 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin) stunned No. 5 Hope College (2-1), 71-65, on Friday, Dec. 1 at the third-annual CCIW/MIAA Men’s Basketball Classic at the Carthage Physical Education Center in Kenosha, Wis. Hope led by four points at halftime, 32-28, after leading by as much as nine points, 21-12, at 7:35. Carthage took its first lead of the second half, 41-38, at 14:44 on a three-pointer by Milos Vukosavljevic. The lead seasawed over the next seven minutes before the Red Men took the lead for good, 54-52, at 7:34 on a layup by Trey Bowens. Carthage extended its lead to eight points, 64-56, at 3:32. The Flying Dutchmen got as close as three, 68-65, on a three-pointer by Derek Van Solkema with 27 seconds remaining, but two free throws by Bill Shemerdiak at the 21-second mark and one by Vukosavljevic with two seconds to go iced the upset win. Carthage shot 45 percent (23-51), while Hope shot 40 percent (21-52). Brian Schlemm topped the Red Men with 16 points on six-of-13 field goals and three-of-four from the free-throw line, along with a game-high nine rebounds. Bill Shemerdiak had 14 points, with Trey Bowens and Navarro Thompson adding 10 points each. Stephen Cramer scored a game-high 22 points for Hope. In Friday’s first game, No. 30 Wheaton College (Ill., 3-2) upset No. 10 Calvin College (3-2), 73-62. On Saturday, Dec. 2, Wheaton (Ill., 3-2) plays Hope at 2 p.m., with Carthage taking on Calvin (3-2) at 4 p.m.

“That was a heck of an early-season college basketball game,” said Carthage coach Bosko Djurickovic. “ It was two pretty good teams playing almost basket for basket in the last 30 minutes of the game. We’re excited as heck to come away with a win. We’re not as talented as years before, but our commitment to playing hard and playing together is really good. I really enjoy this group, and I’ve said that a couple of times. They really compete. We’re a good defensive team and we have a little bit better depth than we’ve had. We’re still a work in progress. We’re a long way from being a terrific team, but I really like the effort.” (courtesy of the Kenosha News)

Newspaper Box Score
Hope vs Carthage
12-1-06 8:00pm at Kenosha, Wisconsin
At Kenosha, Wisconsin
CARTHAGE 71, HOPE 65
HOPE (2-1)
Stephen Cramer 8-15 3-4 22; Tyler Wolfe 2-4 4-4 10; Marcus Vanderheide 2-7
4-6 8; Jesse Reimink 3-10 0-0 8; Derek Van Solkema 2-7 2-3 7; Steven Kratz
2-2 1-2 5; Ryan Klein 2-4 0-0 5; Zach Osburn 0-0 0-0 0; Scott Richardson 0-2
0-0 0; Brett Jager 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 21-52 14-19 65.
CARTHAGE (3-1)
Schlemm, Brian 6-13 3-4 16; Shemerdiak, Bill 5-10 2-2 14; Bowens, Trey 3-8
2-2 10; Hood, Scott 3-5 1-2 10; Vukosavljevic, Milos 2-5 3-4 9;
Franciskovic, Neb 2-2 2-3 6; Jacklin, Billy 1-1 0-0 2; Thompson, Navarro 0-2
2-3 2; Higgins, Joe 1-3 0-0 2; Fendley, Sean 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 23-51 15-20
71.
Hope..........................   32   33  -   65
Carthage......................   28   43  -   71
3-point goals-Hope 9-24 (Stephen Cramer 3-5; Tyler Wolfe 2-4; Jesse Reimink
2-6; Derek Van Solkema 1-6; Ryan Klein 1-1; Marcus Vanderheide 0-2),
Carthage 10-26 (Hood, Scott 3-4; Shemerdiak, Bill 2-7; Vukosavljevic, Milos
2-5; Bowens, Trey 2-3; Schlemm, Brian 1-3; Fendley, Sean 0-1; Higgins, Joe
0-1; Thompson, Navarro 0-2). Fouled out--Hope-None, Carthage-Jacklin, Billy.
Rebounds-Hope 34 (Tyler Wolfe 7; Jesse Reimink 7), Carthage 33 (Schlemm,
Brian 9). Assists-Hope 12 (Brett Jager 7), Carthage 14 (Jacklin, Billy 4).
Total fouls-Hope 22, Carthage 20. A-350