December 29, 2006

Coe Edges Chicago 70-67

CHICAGO -- Coe College's Brian Brungard hit the go-ahead basket and sunk a pair of critical foul shots in the game's closing seconds as the Kohawks upset the 20th-ranked University of Chicago men's basketball team 70-67 Friday night at the Ratner Athletics Center.

Chicago (7-2) held a 63-57 advantage with 5:12 left in the game before Coe (8-1) went on a 10-0 run to take a 67-63 lead at the 2:18 mark. Brungard's three-pointer with 2:47 remaining put the Kohawks in the lead for good, 66-63.

Trailing 68-66, the Maroons had a chance to take the lead when senior Jesse Meyer (Omaha, Neb./ Bellevue West) was fouled during a three-point attempt with 13 seconds showing on the clock.

Meyer missed two of the three foul shots, including the third attempt after which Coe gathered the rebound. Brungard then hit a pair of free throws with six seconds left to cap the victory.

Chicago, which had shot 80.2% from the free throw line in its first eight games, connected on only eight of 17 tries (47.1%) as it lost at home for the first time this year and the first time in nine games dating back to last season.

Chicago led by as many as 15 points (22-7) in the first half en route to taking a 39-31 lead at the intermission.

The Maroons built a 10-point advantage, 47-37, on a Meyer three-pointer with 16:16 left in the contest, but Coe then launched a 14-2 run to regain the lead, 51-49, at the 10:10 mark.

Senior Brandon Woodhead (Lincoln, Neb./ East) led the Maroons with a career-best 26 points. He also collected four assists and a pair of steals.

Meyer added 15 points, including four three-point field goals, while senior Jason Vismantas (Highland Park, Ill./ Highland Park) came off the bench to contribute 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds.

Mike Kilburg led three Kohawks in double figures with 20 points. Kyle Kuenstling and Rob Hanna finished with 13 and 12 points, respectively. Kuenstling also grabbed a game-high nine boards.

Box Score