Second-half spurt carries Spartans to victory

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In a two-minute flurry right after halftime, the light bulb seemed to go on for the Southwestern men’s basketball team Monday night. Playing at home against William Jewell JV, after a lackluster league loss at NIACC of Mason City on Saturday, the Spartans still found themselves floundering during stretches of the first half. Post players Anthony Davis and Royce Phillips had shown an advantage inside early, but sat out much of the first half with two fouls each. Late in the first half, the Cardinals went in front 41-40 on their ninth 3-pointer of the half. But as the second half began, William Jewell was quickly blitzed on a 9-2 Spartan run. Davis hit a turnaround jumper on the first possession, Tyler Raasch found him on an assist for another inside bucket, and then Davis returned the favor by slipping a pass to Raasch cutting down the lane for a layup. Moments later, Kristian Williams drained a 3-pointer from the baseline for a 53-43 Spartan advantage. It grew as large as 22 points (89-67) before the Spartans settled for the 89-73 victory. “In the second half we were defending and rebounding better, and we were very unselfish in moving the ball,” said coach Jerry Drymon. “It was fun to watch.” Davis led Southwestern with 26 points, and Phillips finished with 20. Raasch, in addition to numerous assists, added 14 points with a trio of 3-pointers. Guard Terrance Morgan also got the fastbreak moving and tallied nine points. Scott Sellmeyer scored 14 points for the Cardinals and Ben Monaco added 13, as both ended with three 3-pointers. Overall, William Jewell had 14 3-pointers but only nine baskets from 2-point range. “William Jewell is a very good NAIA program, often in the Final Four,” Drymon said. “They are well-coached and can shoot the 3-pointer well. Our inside game was the difference, and we defended their shooters better in the second half.” The only downfall for the Spartans was a continuing problem at the free throw line, finishing 15-of-33 (45.4 percent). Southwestern (10-5) hosts 8-9 Iowa Central Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. before traveling to No 2-ranked Kirkwood Saturday in Cedar Rapids. Sophomore 6-9 post player Laurice Ellison is out one to two weeks with a shoulder muscle strain, and freshman Ryckey Harper is day-to-day with a leg injury. WILLIAM JEWELL JV (73) — Scott Sellmeyer 3 5-6 14, Ben Monaco 4 2-2 13, Christian Patterson 5 0-0 10, Michael Neuenswander 5 0-0 10, Robert Chenoweth 2 2-6 7, Spencer Gregg 2 0-0 5, Bobby Rech 1 0-0 3, Jared Broughton 1 0-0 3, Jon Charlons 0 2-4 2, Jordan Connell 0 2-2 2. Totals — 23 13-20 73. 3-point goals — 14 (Patterson 4, Sellmeyer 3, Monoco 3, Rech 1, Broughton 1, Gregg 1). Team fouls — 22. SOUTHWESTERN (89) — Anthony Davis 10 6-8 26, Royce Phillips 10 0-2 20, Tyler Raasch 5 1-2 14, Terrance Morgan 4 1-6 9, Chris Santiago 3 1-5 7, Drew Godwin 1 2-4 4, Kristian Williams 1 1-2 4, Jamahl DePriest 1 2-2 4, Will Wilson 0 1-2 1. Totals — 35 15-33 89. 3-point goals — 4 (Raasch 3, Williams 1). Team fouls — 19. Fouled out — None. Wm. Jewell — 41 73 SWCC — 44 89 ____________ Larry Peterson can be reached at 782-2141, ext. 232 or lpeterson@crestonnews.com