Raymond’s 47 points KOs Whits
HOLLAND, Mich. – Kent Raymond did a number on Whitworth University.
Forty-seven, to be exact.
The Wheaton (Ill.) College guard scored a DeVos Fieldhouse-record 47 points to lead the Thunder to a 76-67 victory Friday night in NCAA Division III men’s basketball sectional play at Hope College. The record was 30 points.
Raymond, whose previous career high at any level was 44 points, deserved most of the credit for Wheaton’s victory, Whitworth coach Jim Hayford said.
“Basketball is the ultimate team game. In my time of coaching basketball, I never walked off the court and felt like I was beaten by one player,” Hayford said. “I don’t want to take anything away from the Wheaton players. Someone was passing him the ball, setting screens.
“That was an amazing individual performance. He’s a really special player.”
The loss ended Whitworth’s season with a 21-7 record. It was the Pirates’ first sectional appearance.
Raymond’s career night propelled the Thunder (22-7) to today’s sectional championship game. The winner advances to the final four in Salem, Va., Friday and next Saturday.
No player had scored more than 27 points against Whitworth this season.
The 6-foot-3 Raymond finished off the Pirates with a flurry of 10 points over a 2-minute span in the second half. Whitworth pulled within 57-56 after senior forward Ryan Symes hit a 3-pointer with 5:36 remaining.
Raymond answered with a jumper, two free throws and two 3-pointers. He finished the game shooting 12 of 21 from the field and 16 of 17 from the free-throw line.
“I can’t take credit,” Raymond said. “It was one of those games where God blesses you with the hot hand. I’m used to getting double-teamed all night. (Against Whitworth) I had 1-on-1 matchups all night.
“It was a lot of daylight. I’m not used to that.”
Raymond became Wheaton’s all-time single-season scoring leader during the game. He has 716 points.
It was tough to defend Raymond, Whitworth senior forward Colin Willemsen said.
“He’s the best player I’ve ever seen,” Willemsen said. “He can do it all.”
Raymond’s performance overshadowed Symes, who scored 24 of his team-high 29 points in the second half.
The Northwest Conference Player of the Year went 9 of 12 from the field in the second half after missing four of his first six shots.
“The spotlight doesn’t shine as brightly on you when you lose,” Hayford said. “He had as tremendous of a second-half performance as maybe Raymond did.
“We just didn’t have an answer for Raymond.”
The Pirates received 10 points from forward Calvin Jurich. He was their only other double-digit scorer.
Guards Ross Nakamura and David Riley added seven points apiece for Whitworth. Nakamura had a team-high four assists.
Despite the loss, Hayford praised his players for their effort this season.
Whitworth overcame the graduation of four starters to make the school’s deepest NCAA tournament run. The Pirates also made their second NCAA postseason appearance in a row and third overall.
So much for a rebuilding year.
“These two seniors right here,” Hayford said, referring to Symes and Willemsen, “showed tremendous leadership. We were picked third in our league. We won our league. We won the league tournament.
“I’m very, very proud to be the coach of this team.”