Carry Water’s tip in leads Haskell over Coyotes 72-70
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Willie McCarty (center) scores the game-tying bucket with 10 seconds left in regulation in KWU's 72-70 loss to Haskell on Wednesday night

Ben Carry Water reached behind himself about six feet from the basket as the clock neared zero and tipped up the ball that rattled around and bounced in as the end of period lights lit the backboards of Mabee Arena, giving Haskell Indian Nations University a 72-70 win over Kansas Wesleyan on Wednesday night.

The bucket negated Willie McCarty's game-tying shot, all part of a wild finish in the final minute. Haskell’s Solomon Horse Chief was fouled and converted a three point play with 1:06 left in the game to put the Indians up three, 68-65, but the Coyotes answered back as Trey Sims nailed a three with 53 seconds left to tie it.

DJ Fish then gave Haskell a 70-68 lead with 33 seconds left on a bucket, only to be answered by Willie McCarty on the other end with ten ticks left. McCarty made an incredible defensive play on a shot by Dan Brown  with three seconds left, setting up the final moments.

Haskell inbounded the ball and dumped inside to Brown, whose shot was partially blocked and snagged out of the air by Carry Water who got the lucky bounce as time expired.

The game was a see-saw affair throughout, neither team was able to take more than a three-point lead at any point. There were 13 lead changes and 16 ties in the game as well.

The Coyotes jumped out to an early 7-2 lead on a bucket by McCarty off an assist from Eric Hammond, but the Indians answered back, using a 9-2 run to take an 11-9 lead with 14:30 left on Brown’s layup.

Sims tied things up at 11-all, but Wesleyan (3-2) could not shake Haskell, as the Indians remained close, only allowing the Coyotes to build a slim four-point margin with 9:17 left in the first half on a bucket from Brad Wespieser.

Again the Indians (4-6) would rally back, tying it up at 19-all on a Vince Chavez bucket with 7:59 left. Wesleyan never relegated the lead to Haskell the remainder of the half, taking a 27-22 lead with 2:53 left on a bucket by Matt Dickman. The Indians again answered the Wesleyan lead, tying things back up with 1:10 left on Carry Water’s score. 

Byron Grant converted a pair of free throws with 37.9 seconds left for Haskell to tie things up at 31-all, but Rodney Brown would find Sims on the right wing as time expired for a three to send Wesleyan to a 34-31 lead at the half.

Horse Chief nailed a three on Haskell’s first possession of the second half, sparking a 10-2 run by the Indians to give them a 41-36 lead with 17:42 left in the game.

Wesleyan battled back, eventually taking a 43-41 lead thanks to seven straight points from Melvin Underwood with 15:48 left.

After Horse Chief converted another three-point play to give Haskell a 44-43 lead with 15:01 left. Sims gave the Coyotes the lead back with a layup, only to be answered by Fish on the other end to give Wesleyan a 47-46 lead. Underwood put the Coyotes up by four, 50-46 with 12:01 to go on a free throw, but the Indians answered back to tie things up at 50 when Lenny Miles converted with 10:31 to go.

Romero Hood again gave the Coyotes a four-point lead 56-52 with 9:14 to go on a pair of free throws, but the Indians answered back, taking a 57-56 advantage with 7:15 to go on another bucket from Carry Water. McCarty put Wesleyan back up with 6:46 left, and Sims eventually gave the Coyotes a 63-61 lead with free throws with 3:21 to go, but a Carry Water score tied things up and Horse Chief then took over the game, scoring five in a row for Haskell to give the Indians a 68-65 lead with 1:06 to go.

Sims’ three tied things up setting up the wild finish, culminating with Carry Water’s tip in of the miss by Dan Brown at the buzzer to give Haskell the win.

Carry Water led Haskell with 20 points on 10-of-13 shooting, while Horse Chief added 17 and Fish pitched in 10. The Indians shot 30-of-64 from the field for 46.9 percent, aided by a 51.4 percent effort in the second half. Carry Water also added 11 rebounds for the Indians.

McCarty led the Coyotes with 18, while Sims pitched in 15 and Underwood added 12 off the bench. Wesleyan was 27-of-70 from the floor for a dismal 38.6 percent, and were just 4-of-19 from behind the arc for 21.1 percent. The Coyotes did improve their free throw shooting, converting 12-of-14 tries at the line for 85.7 percent. McCarty led the way with seven rebounds, while Hammond pitched in six boards and had a team high four assists.

The Coyotes are back in action on Friday when they head to Pueblo, Colo., to play in the Colorado State-Pueblo Classic on Friday and Saturday. Wesleyan will play an exhibition game on Friday night at 7 p.m., Mountain time against the host Thunderwolves and then will play Western State College on Saturday at 3 p.m. Mountain time. Wesleyan returns home on November 25 to host Mid-America Christian University at 7 p.m., inside Mabee Arena.

-- KWU SI --