With Wheaton holding a 19-18 edge over Coast Guard with 12:16 left in the opening stanza, the hosts put together a 21-5 run during a seven-minute span to forge a 15-point cushion. Despite Wheaton shooting 42.9 percent from the field in the first half, including 4-of-10 from three-point range, the Lyons trailed at halftime, 48-33 after the Bears dominated by hitting 22-of-38 first-half field goals for a 57.9 percent clip.
The Lyons trailed by as many as 21 points, 56-35, with 17 minutes to go in the contest, but the Blue and White rattled off a 20-4 run over the next five minutes to draw within 60-55 at the 12:10 mark. However, Coast Guard responded with a 9-0 run to end Wheaton's comeback hopes. Wheaton maintained its successful shooting during the second stanza, hitting 43.2 percent of its shots, but the Bears connected on 55.6 percent of their shots, going 15-of-27.
Wheaton knocked down 43.1 percent of its shots but was dominated on the boards, 52-29 by a Coast Guard team which ranks second in Division III in rebounding margin and third in all of college basketball. The Lyons also yielded 90 points for the first time since February 24, 2004. Coast Guard's 56.9 percent shooting was a season high for a Wheaton opponent.
Senior James Greenslit (Framingham, MA/Rivers School) led the Lyons with a season-high 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including 3-of-4 from long range. Junior Brian Zukowski (Dracut, MA/Dracut) netted 11 points, and senior Sean Kelly (Providence, RI/Wheeler School) totaled nine points and five assists.
A pair of double-double performers keyed Coast Guard's victory, as sophomores Jeff Prebeck (Columbus, IN/Columbus East) and Craig Johnson (Medford, OR/South Medford) combined to shoot 23-of-39 while scoring 51 points and corralling 23 rebounds. Prebeck finished 12-of-21 while recording 27 points and 12 rebounds, and Johnson notched 24 points on 11-of-18 shooting and grabbed 11 caroms. Classmate Al Sowers (Monrovia, MD/Saint John's School at Prospect Hall) tallied 11 points and nine assists, while senior Dan Sheppard (El Cajon, CA/Valhalla) notched 12 rebounds.
Wheaton returns home on Tuesday for a non-conference clash with Tufts University at 7:00 p.m. before hitting the road for three straight contests.
Newspaper Box Score Wheaton College vs Coast Guard Academy 1/14/06 1:00 p.m. at Merriman Gymnasium, New London, Conn. At Merriman Gymnasium, New London, Conn. COAST GUARD ACADEMY 90, WHEATON COLLEGE 71 WHEATON COLLEGE (10-4, 2-2) James Greenslit 5-6 2-3 15; Brian Zukowski 3-14 4-4 11; Sean Kelly 4-12 0-0 9; Brent DiGiovanna 4-6 0-0 8; Ryan McDonough 2-5 3-5 7; Jake Otto 3-4 0-1 6; Kristopher Pedra 3-4 0-0 6; Eric Johnston 2-6 0-0 5; Patrick McDonough 1-3 0-0 2; David Harding 1-4 0-0 2; Leif Kothe 0-0 0-0 0; Nick Michel 0-1 0-0 0; Patrick Youreneff 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-65 9-13 71. COAST GUARD ACADEMY (9-2, 2-1) Jeff Prebeck 12-21 3-5 27; Craig Johnson 11-18 2-4 24; Al Sowers 4-9 3-3 11; Grant Johnson 3-6 0-0 8; Steve Blum 3-3 1-1 7; Dan Sheppard 3-5 1-4 7; Ryan Ball 1-2 2-2 5; Jason Nelson 0-0 1-2 1; H.B. Baker 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 37-65 13-21 90. Wheaton College............... 33 38 - 71 Coast Guard Academy........... 48 42 - 90 3-point goals-Wheaton College 6-18 (James Greenslit 3-4; Sean Kelly 1-4; Brian Zukowski 1-8; Eric Johnston 1-1; Patrick McDonough 0-1), Coast Guard Academy 3-10 (Grant Johnson 2-4; Ryan Ball 1-2; Al Sowers 0-3; Jeff Prebeck 0-1). Fouled out--Wheaton College-None, Coast Guard Academy-None. Rebounds-Wheaton College 23 (Ryan McDonough 5), Coast Guard Academy 52 (Jeff Prebeck 12; Dan Sheppard 12). Assists-Wheaton College 16 (Sean Kelly 5), Coast Guard Academy 25 (Al Sowers 9). Total fouls-Wheaton College 19, Coast Guard Academy 14. A-375