The Tigers improved to 14-12 on the season and advanced to the tournament finals for the first time in the tourney's four-year history with the win. DePauw will face 19-7 Centre in Sunday's Noon CST championship game. The Colonels defeated Southwestern, 77-55, in today's other semifinal contest. Rhodes finished its season at 14-13.
DePauw scored the game's first eight points and never looked back in picking up its fourth straight win and seventh in the last eight games.
Reid Sakel led the Tigers with 21 points and shared the rebouding lead with six with Stephen Schott who also added 14 points. Alex Stewart finished with 10 and tied the DePauw career record of 232 three-pointers made set by Troy Greenlee (1987-91). Cory Smith paced the Lynx with 14 followed by Matthew Jakes and Rami Almefty with 12 each.
The Tigers shot 53 percent for the game and nailed 10-of-20 three-pointers including a 5-of-7 performance by Sakel. Mike Moore tied an SCAC Tournament record with eight assists.
DePauw University vs Rhodes College 02/25/06 3 p.m. at Memphis, Tenn. - Mallory-Hyde Gymnasium At Memphis, Tenn. - Mallory-Hyde Gymnasium DEPAUW UNIVERSITY 74, RHODES COLLEGE 54 DEPAUW UNIVERSITY (14-12) Reid Sakel 8-10 0-0 21; Stephen Schott 4-8 6-6 14; Alex Stewart 3-5 3-3 10; Matt McDonald 3-7 0-0 6; Brian Oilar 2-5 0-0 6; Austin Brown 2-4 1-2 6; Ryan Werntz 1-3 0-0 3; Mike Moore 1-5 0-0 2; Tim Crouch 1-1 0-0 2; Adam Dunn 1-1 0-0 2; Dan Gifford 0-0 2-2 2. Totals 26-49 12-13 74. RHODES COLLEGE (14-13) Cory Smith 6-11 2-2 15; Matthew Jakes 5-11 2-4 12; Rami Almefty 5-21 0-0 12; Joe Thompson 2-10 0-0 5; Justin Long 1-7 0-0 3; Pearson Weems 1-1 0-0 3; Rob Bledsoe 1-2 0-0 2; Blake Wilson 1-1 0-0 2; Jeff Blumenthal 0-1 0-0 0; Dean Shroyer 0-1 0-0 0; Justin Strong 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 22-67 4-6 54. DePauw University............. 47 27 - 74 Rhodes College................ 18 36 - 54 3-point goals-DePauw University 10-20 (Reid Sakel 5-7; Brian Oilar 2-4; Alex Stewart 1-3; Austin Brown 1-1; Ryan Werntz 1-2; Mike Moore 0-2; Stephen Schott 0-1), Rhodes College 6-27 (Rami Almefty 2-6; Pearson Weems 1-1; Joe Thompson 1-8; Cory Smith 1-4; Justin Long 1-5; Jeff Blumenthal 0-1; Dean Shroyer 0-1; Matthew Jakes 0-1). Fouled out--DePauw University-None, Rhodes College-Matthew Jakes. Rebounds-DePauw University 33 (Stephen Schott 6; Reid Sakel 6), Rhodes College 33 (Rami Almefty 5; Justin Long 5; Cory Smith 5). Assists-DePauw University 17 (Mike Moore 8), Rhodes College 9 (Rami Almefty 4). Total fouls-DePauw University 10, Rhodes College 14. A-575 2006 SCAC Men's Basketball Tournament - Second Semifinal