Raymond’s 47 Lifts Wheaton Past Whitworth
HOLLAND, Mich. – Whitworth couldn’t figure out a way to stop Kent Raymond, whose 47 points helped lead the Wheaton Thunder to a 76-67 win over the Pirates in the Sectional Semifinals of the NCAA Division III Tournament in Holland, Michigan.
The loss ends the Pirates season, which finished at 21-7. It was the first appearance in the Sectional Semifinals for the Pirates.
Raymond, a junior from New Palistine, Indiana, was 12-21 from the floor and 16-17 from the free throw line. He was also 7-10 from three-point range. It was a personal high for Raymond.
The early part of the game was tight, with Whitworth holding a 15-13 lead midway through the first half before Wheaton went on a 12-2 run to take a 25-17 lead. Wheaton led 33-28 at the half, and the Pirates never led again.
The Thunder led by as much as 10 in the second half, but a 9-0 run got Whitworth within one point at 57-56 with 5:36 remaining. But the Pirates couldn’t get the lead, and after Raymond scored eight straight points, Wheaton never looked back.
Ryan Symes, the Pirates’ leading scorer, was held scoreless until just over two minutes remained in the first half. He finished with 29 points to lead the Bucs. Calvin Jurich scored 10 and was the only other Pirate in double-figures.
Wheaton will now play the Hope Flying Dutchmen for the right to go to the Division III Final Four in Salem, Virginia. Hope, the home team in the sectional, beat Ohio Wesleyan 71-63 in the other game of the night.
