Sports
Monday, March 28, 2016
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Baker, Iroegbu get to first postseason Next game
Krystal Ward Staff writer
DeKalb | Men’s basketball is preparing to participate in the Vegas 16 Tournament, a feat that marks the first time seniors Travon Baker and Chuks Iroegbu have made it to postseason play. The quality of the eight teams in the field, the national exposure on CBS Sports Network and the threeday tournament in Las Vegas all contributed to head coach Mark Montgomery’s and Athletics Director Sean Frazier’s decision to accept the invitation, according to an NIU Athletics news release. The tournament tops a historic season for the Huskies. Previously, the team has only reached 21 wins once and this season ties the 197172 record for second-most wins ever. The team went 18-1 at home and finished 21-12.
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Just looking at the history, we haven’t been [to the postseason] in 20 years. So it’s time to start a new tradition and get things rolling. We want to make this an every year thing ... .” Chuks Iroegbu Senior forward
The Vegas 16 boasts a significantly competitive field and Montgomery was well aware of the competition the team would be up against. “We start off with Santa Barbara. Coach [Bob] Williams has been there for 18+ years, and they’ve
NIU vs. University of California, Santa Barbara Time: 4:30 p.m. Date: Today Place: Las Vegas already played 11 teams that are playing in postseason,” Montgomery said. “UC-Santa Barbara won their last nine games before they lost in the conference tournament in the semifinals to Hawaii. They have three guys [who average] in double figures. The most important, and the toughest game, is usually your first game. It’s going to be quick turnaround, just like the conference tournament would be and just like the NCAA tournament would be, but we will scout all eight teams.” Seniors Travon Baker and Chuks Iroegbu are headed to their first postseason play in their respective tenures at NIU. The Huskies haven’t made it to the postseason in two decades. “For me and Chuks [Iroegbu], getting to play in the postseason is probably more important because we’ve been here,” Baker said. “I’ve been here four years and I’ve never been to postseason play, so I’m real excited. I’m ready to go. I’m ready to play. For the [young] guys it’s their first year and they’re getting to go to postseason play in their
Atlee Hargis | Northern Star File Photo
Senior guard Travon Baker encourages teammates during a March 7 game against Western Michigan University. He became the all-time leader in steals and games played for NIU this season, helping lead the team to a 21-12 record.
first year. I know they still want to continue to play, so that’s the most important thing.” Baker is averaging 11 points and 3.3 rebounds in final year with the Huskies, starting all 33 games. He became the all-time steals leader in the history of the program this
season. Iroegbu averaged 6.1 points and 2.5 rebounds in a reserve role, helping to anchor a strong bench unit for the Huskies. “Just looking at the history, we haven’t been [to the postseason] in 20 years,” Iroegbu said. “So it’s time to start a new tradition and
Baseball downs Ohio in MAC opener Christopher Loggins Sports Editor
conference play with a three-game series against Ohio University over the weekend, winning two out of three to take its second straight MAC opening series. NIU began the weekend on a strong note, shutting the Bobcats out for a 2-0 victory Friday. Freshman pitcher William Anderson picked up the win for the Huskies, pitching a shutout in eight innings of work on the mound. He hasn’t given up a run in more than 17 innings, giving him two consecutive scoreless outings. The Bobcats returned with a strong showing in the second game of the series Saturday, beating the Huskies in a close 4-2 contest. Ohio senior infielder John Adryan hit two home runs on the day, the Northern Star File Photo second coming in the bottom of Junior infielder Tommy Hook lays down a bunt against the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee on April 23, 2014, against the eighth inning to seal the game. Northwestern University. Hook is hitting .295 on the season, picking up 18 hits and driving in 7 runs.
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Mike Kunigonis Baseball head coach
Junior pitcher Jake Rudnicki earned the win for the Bobcats, pushing him to 3-0 for the year.
In Brief
Men’s tennis falls big against WMU Northern Star Staff
DeKalb | Baseball (6-17) opened
This was a great team weekend. We pitched, we had clutch hitting, we played solid defense and we did it all against a really good Ohio team [that] won the conference tournament ... .”
get things rolling. We want to make this an every year thing so we have to start somewhere, start with this Vegas 16 inaugural tournament. We’re just hoping this starts us on a new track and that for years to come [NIU] will be in postseason play every year.”
Rudnicki pitched seven innings, giving up just two hits and two runs. He threw 101 pitches and struck out two batters. NIU topped the weekend off with a 3-1 victory Sunday, out-hitting Ohio 8-6. Sophomore pitcher Donovin Sims picked up the win, going 7.1 innings and allowing four hits and striking out five. Sims’ 7.1 innings are a careerhigh. The win marked the second straight season NIU has won its opening MAC series.
“This was a great team weekend,” said head coach Mike Kunigonis, according to an NIU Athletics news release. “We pitched, we had clutch hitting, we played solid defense and we did it all against a really good Ohio team [that] won the conference tournament last year. Donovin gave us a great start for the second week in a row and we battled all game offensively and got it done.” The team has now put together its strongest stretch of the season,
winning four of its last six games. It still has a long way to go to get to .500, but has a lot of time to do so with many home stands and more than half a season left. The Huskies will return to action this week with a one-game series against the University of Iowa. The first pitch is slated for 6:05 p.m. Wednesday in Iowa City. They will end the week with a three-game series against Miami University beginning 3 p.m. Friday at Ralph McKinzie Field.
DeKalb | Men’s tennis fell to 14-6 after taking a 7-0 loss to Western Michigan University (15-4) on Friday. The Broncos rallied against the Huskies early, getting off to a quick doubles start. The loss broke NIU’s four-game winning streak, bringing the team to 2-1 in conference play.
Western Michigan 7, NIU 0 Doubles 1. Ruben Greiner/Daniel Loebel (WMU) def. Carlos Manzanas/Austin Russell (NIU) 6-2 2. Matt Hamilton/Maik Steiner (WMU) def. Kevin Daun/ Georg Lundkvist (NIU) 6-2 3. Jimmy Beckwith/Jefta Kecic (WMU) vs. Louis-Philippe Hamel/Tom Hjertonsson (NIU) 3-4, unfinished. Singles 1. Jefta Kecic (WMU) def. Carlos Manzanas (NIU) 6-1, 6-1. 2. Matt Hamilton (WMU) def. Louis-Philippe Hamel (NIU) 6-4, 2-6, 10-7. 3. Maik Steiner (WMU) def. Georg Lundkvist (NIU) 6-2, 6-1. 4. Ruben Greiner (WMU) def. Tom Hjertonsson (NIU) 6-1, 4-6, 10-4. 5. Matej Svjetlicic (WMU) def. Kevin Daun (NIU) 7-6 (7-3), 7-5. 6. Daniel Loebel (WMU) def. Austin Russell (NIU) 6-4, 6-2 .