Gries, Whalen Score Career Highs Against Illinois College

From Sports Information Director, January 13, 2012 | Men's Basketball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

DE PERE - St. Norbert College sophomore guard Brandon Gries and junior guard Jack Whalen posted career-high scoring totals in the Green Knights' 79-70 win over Illinois College in a Midwest Conference game on Connie Tilley Court at Schuldes Sports Center.

The Green Knights improved to 8-5 overall and 5-3 in the MWC with the win, while the Blueboys dropped to 3-9, 1-6.

St. Norbert shot a brisk 55.1 percent clip from the floor, canning 27 of 49 field-goal attempts. The Green Knights were also 20-for-24 (83.3 percent) at the free-throw line and held a commanding 36-19 rebounding advantage.

The Green Knights trailed 15-11 with just 5 minutes gone by in the game thanks to the Blueboys hitting on six of their first seven shots from the floor. St. Norbert then went on a 9-0 run over the next five minutes to take a 20-15 lead on a Paul Appleton tip-in. The Green Knights led by 10 points twice in the half, including at the half when Gries drilled a 3-pointer for a 40-30 score at the break.

St. Norbert led 57-41 with 12:07 left on a conventional three-point play by Whalen. The Blueboys, who trailed 67-55 with 5:16 to go, then went on a 10-2 run over the next three minutes to get to within 69-65. But Gries canned a 3-pointer from the left wing with 1:57 left to salt the game away.

Gries finished with 20 points, going 7-for-10 from the floor. Whalen had 16 points, finishing 6-for-9 from the field. Appleton had 14 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Andrew Schwoerer finished with 10 points.

Illinois College shot 49.1 percent from the floor, making 27 of 55 field-goal attempts. Craig Bals led the Blueboys with 29 points behind an 11-for-17 effort from the floor. Brandon Berry added 11 points for the Blueboys.