Maroons rally to tip Wabash, gain 3rd round

   March 8, 1998

   BY LEN ZIEHM STAFF REPORTER

   The University of Chicago couldn't play its first game in the NCAA
   Division III tournament at Henry Crown Field House on Saturday, and
   that made a big difference for the Maroons.

   Playing at Moody Bible Institute's Solheim Center, the Maroons fell 13
   points behind Indiana Collegiate Athletic Conference champion Wabash
   in the second half. But they came back to win 67-62 to earn a third
   round meeting at Wisconsin-Platteville (26-0) Friday. Platteville
   advanced by beating Wisconsin-Oshkosh 69-59.

   With the University Athletic Association indoor track and field meet
   booked at their home gym, the Maroons (24-2)--second-seeded in the
   Midwest Regional--took their home game to Solheim Center. For the
   first 30 minutes before a standing-room crowd of 2,000, the court was
   as friendly to Wabash as to the Maroons.

   ``Wabash has a great support group,'' Chicago guard Aaron Horne said.
   ``They had as many in the crowd as we did. At this time of year you
   can't expect anything less.''

   ``We were about as familiar with the court as Wabash was,'' Chicago
   coach Pat Cunningham said. ``We practiced there Friday and Saturday. I
   thought the big difference would be the crowd. It's a great gym, and
   it's close to our campus, but I thought we'd lose some students. We
   didn't lose as many as I thought we might.

   The Maroons, the only team in the 11-year history of the University
   Athletic Conference to post an undefeated league season, couldn't cope
   with 6-9, 245-pound Eric Jaryszak in the first half. The Hammond High
   School product had nine points and seven rebounds in 10 minutes, and
   the Little Giants hit 52 percent of their field-goal tries to open a
   37-32 halftime lead.

   Jaryszak drew his fourth foul 14 seconds into the second half, but
   still helped his team to a 13-point advantage before the Maroons
   regrouped. They went on a 17-5 run, catching the Little Giants at 55
   on point guard Rusty Loyd's three-point basket.

   Matt Morycz delivered the key baskets coming in, a three-pointer to
   give the Maroons the lead for good at 60-57 with 1:59 to go and
   another 44 seconds later to produce a six-point cushion. Morycz had
   hit just one of six field-goal tries before burying his two big ones.

   ``They weren't giving me anything inside,'' Morycz said. ``On the
   first one, I had a couple of good screens. On the second, the shot
   clock was running down.''

   The Maroons, who defeated Wabash in last year's playoffs and by 13 in
   a nonconference game at Crown on Dec. 3, needed both shots. Their
   victory wasn't assured until Jason Milesko converted two free throws
   with six seconds left. Wabash also cooled off, hitting 27 percent in
   the second half.

   Chad Tabor, Wabash's Division III all-American selection, was held to
   11 points on 5-for-14 shooting. Loyd scored a game-high 18 points and
   had support from reserve Andy Stromment (13 points) and Morycz (12) as
   the Maroons overcome a 40-30 rebound deficit to get the victory.