DANIEL THE MAN
Sackey makes clutch free throws for Crusaders in Paradise Jam win
Va l p a ra i s o ’s Da n i e l Sackey wasn’t thinking about his 53.8% free-throw shooting from this season.
Nor was he thinking about his 63.8% performance from last season.
The sophomore point guard simply was focused on the task at hand.
Sackey hit four straight free throws in the final 17 seconds Friday to help seal the Crusaders’ 78-74 win over Grand Canyon in a back-and-forth Paradise Jam opener.
“I just try not to dwell on the past too much,” Sackey said. “I knew I had to step up and knock down the free throws for us to win and that’s what I did.
“There was no nerves. I knew what I had to do and I did it.”
Valparaiso coach Matt Lottich expressed confidence in Sackey.
“Huge,” Lottich said. “Absolutely huge. Daniel’s a guy who wants those shots.”
Sackey had 12 points, a career-high six rebounds, four assists and three steals for the Crusaders (4-1), who shot 80.8% (21-of-26) from the line.
Fellow sophomore guard Javon Freeman-Liberty continued his impressive start to the season with 22 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Junior guard Nick Robinson added 16 points and six rebounds. Freshman forward/guard Donovan Clay had the best game of his young career with 10 points, four rebounds and a key blocked shot with a minute left as Valparaiso was clinging to a 73-72 lead against Grand Canyon (2-4).
“Donovan’s not afraid of the moment at all,” Lottich said. “He came in and played really, really hard. He was able to compete and get things done.”
Valparaiso used a 13-3 run to start the second half to lead 53-43. But Grand Canyon, which received a game-high 27 points from Carlos Johnson, came back to grab a 67-65 advantage.
Robinson and senior forward/guard John Kiser hit back-to-back 3-pointers to propel the Crusaders to a 71-67 lead with 6:32 left.
“We knew we had to stay positive and bounce back, and that’s what we did,” Sackey said. “We knew we’d get this game if we played hard and executed.”
Clay on cue: Given the state of Valparaiso’s frontcourt, the 6-foot-7 Clay’s performance was timely in particular.
With senior forward/ guard and Marquette graduate Ryan Fazekas a longterm absentee with a left wrist injury, the Crusaders also were without freshman forward Ben Krikke because of an illness, according to the team.
Also, junior forward/center Mileek McMillan was hindered by foul trouble. The Merrillville grad was limited to five points in 11 minutes before fouling out with 4:07 left.
Lottich expected Krikke to return when Valparaiso plays Nevada (3-3) in a semifinal at 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Krikke, who was coming off a career-high 11 points against North Dakota, stayed at the hotel against Grand Canyon.
“He was throwing up all (Thursday) night,” Lottich said. “There was a thought about him coming. But in the end, it kind of depletes you of everything. Just get some rest.”
Up next: First-year coach Steve Alford and the Wolf Pack advanced with a 74-60 win over Fordham (3-1) on Friday. Nevada was picked fourth in the Mountain West preseason poll.
“The first game is the most important game of the tournament,” Sackey said. “It determines what you’re playing for. You can be playing for first place or you can be playing for the consolation. We want to be on the championship side.
“We had to lock in, but the lock-in doesn’t end here. We have to lock in again on Sunday.”