IWU 70 CMS 61

A really hard-fought win by the Titans in the California trip finale. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps is not a Top 25-caliber team like Occidental, but they are a very physical, rugged team that plays great defense and really rebounds well. It was nice to see the Titans respond in that type of game...especially considering they were down 5 under 10:00.

Down 48-43 with 9:15 to play, the Titans responded with one of their best stretches of the season - a 19-3 run in just over a 4 1/2 minute span to take control of the game, 62-41 with 4:39 to play. IWU's points in that key run were by:

* Travis Rosenkranz - 8
* Sean Dwyer - 6
* Matt Schick - 3
* Darius Gant -2

So 17 of the 19 points in that run from guys who didn't play for the Titans last year - freshmen Rosenkranz and Schick and sophomore Dwyer (foot injury in 2006-07). Pretty impressive.

It was great to see Travis look so confident on the floor. With 6:26 to play he pulled up off the dribble and hit a huge 3 to put the Titans up 54-48...that's when I knew that he was really feeling good out there.

Matt Schick had a terrific 2nd half, scoring all 10 of his points. Matt is a very heady player that just does a lot of things well. I think we'll see Matt play a key role for the Titans during the CCIW season.

And it is great to have Sean Dwyer back. Sean brings toughness and leadership to the floor, in addition to ball-handling the perimeter defense. I expect him to keep getting better as he settles in.

Again, not a win over a national powerhouse, but a lot of good things happened down the stretch of the CMS game.

It's CCIW time.