Men's Basketball advances to WHAC Championship game with tight win over Indiana Tech

(Fort Wayne, IN) - The Rochester Christian men's basketball team headed to Indiana Tech to avenge their two regular-season losses to the Warriors. RCU took a seven-point lead into the halftime, and never gave up the lead, despite four ties in the game, which proved enough as RCU advances to their third-ever WHAC Championship game on Tuesday. RCU moved to 22-8 on the season, which is the most wins since the 2019-2020 season. 

FIRST HALF

Indiana Tech won the opening tip and would turn the ball over on the first possession, leading to a Tymias Williams layup. The layup jump-started a 9-2 run with James Fisher and Linden Holder getting in on the scoring, with Holder hitting a three-pointer. The team would start to trade baskets with Holder hitting another three-pointer and Tymias Williams scoring a couple of buckets. Indiana Tech was able to tie the game up twice over the next couple of minutes. 

RCU was able to keep the lead throughout the half with key buckets made off the bench by Ashton Goul, pushing the lead up to six points. RCU would see a couple of empty possessions before James Fisher hit one of two free throws. Darnell Turner Jr. would score the final four points in the half for Rochester Christian. 

SECOND HALF

The start of the second half would see RCU build upon the seven-point lead right away, with James Fisher and Tyler Allen hitting back-to-back shots, with Linden Holder hitting his third three of the game, giving RCU a 10-point lead. A nearly two-minute scoring drought from both teams saw Ashton Goul score his second three-pointer, with RCU calling a timeout. The Warriors were able to get the lead up to 12 points with 11 minutes left in the game, their largest of the game. 

IIT responded right back with a quick 6-0 run, before neither team scored over the next two minutes. Tyler Allen netted a second three-pointer in the game, giving RCU some breathing room. A IIT 7-0 run, pulled the lead back down to three points, with what seemed to be a momentum-changing dunk by the WHAC Player of the Year. 

James Fisher would swing the momentum right back to RCU with the next eight RCU points, including his own dunk, with a minute left in the game. The next points would see IIT make three free throws with three seconds left to once again tie the game up. A nearly full-court pass to Tyler Allen, with him able to draw a foul and hit two free throws, regaining the lead. IIT attempted a pair of long passes and was able to get a jumper off at the buzzer, but the ball would bounce off the rim, sending RCU to the Championship game. 

TOP PERFORMERS

All five of the Warriors starters scored in double-figures, with James Fisher tallying 19 points, while Tyler Allen scored 14, Tymias Williams and Linden Holder scored 12, and Darnell Turner Jr. scored 10. Tymias Williams led the passing attack with five assists in the game. 

Tymias Williams tallied a team-high 10 rebounds, picking up his 10th double-double on the season. James Fisher pulled down nine rebounds in the game, with Tyler Allen and Ashton Goul each grabbing seven rebounds. Tyler Allen had a pair of steals in the game, while James Fisher blocked three shots. 

UP NEXT

The Warriors advance to the WHAC Championship game on Tuesday, March 3, and will take on the Madonna Crusaders.