MCC News
Wed, Jan 18, 2012 - [Men's Basketball] - Viewed 141 times - Post By Brian Thiessen
St. Ambrose senior forward Mike Kennedy became just the fourth Bee to score 2,000 career points
Mike Kennedy took any individual suspense out of the game early. Needing just six points to reach 2,000 in his St. Ambrose University career entering Wednesday night's game at Viterbo, the senior forward needed just over two minutes to accomplish the task.
Kennedy scored the Bees' first six points, the final two coming on a fastbreak layup following a Chris Donnelly steal and assist just 2:02 into the game, to become just the fourth SAU men's basketball player to reach the milestone.
The game itself contained significantly more drama as the Bees were pushed to overtime after a late V-Hawk rally before escaping with a 70-69 win after Donnelly blocked a potential game-winning shot at the buzzer.
The Bees improved to 12-8 overall and maintained a share of the Midwest Collegiate Conference lead with a 6-2 league mark.
Leading most of the way, St. Ambrose appeared poised to cruise to the win after a 5-0 run put the Bees in front 60-50 with less than three minutes remaining. But Viterbo's Jordan Laufenberg threw in a desperation 3-pointer at the horn to cap a comeback and force overtime at 66-66.
Both teams struggled to score in the extra session. Kennedy and Nicholas Frazier hit baskets to put the Bees in front 70-66 before the V-Hawks had one final rally. Viterbo (8-12, 3-5 MCC) got to within two on an Alex Koeller jumper and pulled to within a point when Izac Sheforgen hit 1-of-2 from the line with just over a minute on the clock.
Donnelly proceeded to miss a pair from the line but made up for it with a huge defensive effort, blocking Sheforgen's jumper to end the game.
The Bees shot 52.3 percent from the floor but were hurt by committing 23 turnovers.
Kennedy scored 17 points to give him 2,011 in his career, good for third place on the school's all-time scoring list, surpassing Bob Cannady, who finished his SAU career in 1994 with 2,003 points. Jeff Stowasser (2,486 points from 1991-95) and Josh Miller (2,286 points from 1996-00) are the top two scorers in Bee history.
Frazier scored 16, Donnelly finished with 13 and Justin Blondell added 12 to give the Bees four players in double figures.
Sheforgen scored 21 in the loss.
Kennedy scored the Bees' first six points, the final two coming on a fastbreak layup following a Chris Donnelly steal and assist just 2:02 into the game, to become just the fourth SAU men's basketball player to reach the milestone.
The game itself contained significantly more drama as the Bees were pushed to overtime after a late V-Hawk rally before escaping with a 70-69 win after Donnelly blocked a potential game-winning shot at the buzzer.
The Bees improved to 12-8 overall and maintained a share of the Midwest Collegiate Conference lead with a 6-2 league mark.
Leading most of the way, St. Ambrose appeared poised to cruise to the win after a 5-0 run put the Bees in front 60-50 with less than three minutes remaining. But Viterbo's Jordan Laufenberg threw in a desperation 3-pointer at the horn to cap a comeback and force overtime at 66-66.
Both teams struggled to score in the extra session. Kennedy and Nicholas Frazier hit baskets to put the Bees in front 70-66 before the V-Hawks had one final rally. Viterbo (8-12, 3-5 MCC) got to within two on an Alex Koeller jumper and pulled to within a point when Izac Sheforgen hit 1-of-2 from the line with just over a minute on the clock.
Donnelly proceeded to miss a pair from the line but made up for it with a huge defensive effort, blocking Sheforgen's jumper to end the game.
The Bees shot 52.3 percent from the floor but were hurt by committing 23 turnovers.
Kennedy scored 17 points to give him 2,011 in his career, good for third place on the school's all-time scoring list, surpassing Bob Cannady, who finished his SAU career in 1994 with 2,003 points. Jeff Stowasser (2,486 points from 1991-95) and Josh Miller (2,286 points from 1996-00) are the top two scorers in Bee history.
Frazier scored 16, Donnelly finished with 13 and Justin Blondell added 12 to give the Bees four players in double figures.
Sheforgen scored 21 in the loss.
