Crimson Wave rally from 17-point deficit to top Titans 84-82

South Bend, IN – The Calumet College of St. Joseph men's basketball team rallied back from a 17-point deficit to take down IU South Bend 84-82 on Wednesday evening at the Student Activities Center. The Crimson Wave held the Titans to just two points in the final five minutes of regulation as they complete the comeback and win their fourth game in a row.

How it Happened

CCSJ (13-9, 8-7 CCAC) kept pace with IU South Bend (13-10, 10-5 CCAC) the opening 13 minutes of the game, with the score tied at 27. 

The Titans managed to put together a 22-5 run to close the first half and take a 17-point lead heading into halftime. IU South Bend was shooting 60 percent (18-of-30) from the field in the first half while CCSJ was shooting below 40 percent (13-of-33) from the field and from 3-point range (6-for-18). 

To start the second half, CCSJ put together a run of its own as Scott Gowan and Colby Wiggins made back-to-back 3-pointers before Zion Morgan made a nifty move to the basket and scored a layup. Moments later after a J.Caleb Slawinski steal, Wiggins made another 3-pointer and the IU South Bend lead was cut to nine.

The Titans fought to keep a sustainable lead, but the Wave turned up the pressure in the final five minutes.

Trailing by 11 with 5:19 remaining, CCSJ would not allow IU South Bend to score another field goal. 

Jeanluc Wilson was the primary ball handler down the stretch and the first play to spark the comeback was his extra swing pass to an open Gowan, who nailed the 3-pointer from the corner cutting the lead back down to single digits. 

The next possession, Jared Hankins made a strong move to the basket, jumping through the defender's chest to make a difficult layup and cut the lead down to six. Shorty after, Wilson blitzed a defender near midcourt, came up with the steal and finished on the other end with a one-handed dunk to cut the lead to four.

With one minute remaining, Slawinksi came up with two pivotal stops on the defensive end, leading to a Wilson transition layup making it a one possession game.

Identical to the previous possession, CCSJ came up with a stop on the defensive end, leading to a Wilson transition basket, giving the Wave its first lead since the 7:22 mark in the first half.

After a pair of free throws by the Titans, Wilson came down the court calling his own number and made a 3-pointer from the top the key. IU South Bend had two opportunities to tie or win the game, but the Wave defense prevailed. 

IU South Bend missed its last nine field goal attempts while Wilson scored 15 of his 18 points in the second half.

As a team, CCSJ shot 19-of-29 (65.5 percent) from the field in the second half and made all seven of its free throw attempts.

The Crimson Wave have now won four straight games, all conference games, making that the longest active winning streak of any team in the CCAC. 

Crimson Wave Leaders 

Jeanluc Wilson led the Wave with 18 points, along with six rebounds and two steals. Scott Gowan had 15 points, four rebounds and four assists while Colby Wiggins had 12 points and three assists. Jared Hankins contributed as well with 11 points and four steals.

Up Next

CCSJ returns to action Saturday, February 8 as they host Saint Xavier University in the Rittenmeyer Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT.