By By ERIKA PICKLES
Niles Daily Star
NILES - If Friday evening's game between Niles and St. Joseph would have been one of free throws, the Vikings would not have had a good night.
Although Niles did take the 67-66 Big 16 West Division win, the Vikes went 13-of-27 at the free throw line in the final period of the game.
In the first minutes of the fourth period the game stayed very close with Niles only leading by a few points and the Bears tying the score at 48 and 50.
Ben Hansen set the tone for Niles when he made a bucket, which was followed by a three-pointer and a bucket from Brandon Thomas, giving Niles a 57-50 lead with 2:45 left to play.
Hansen added another bucket and was fouled on the play, but missed the free shot.
Pete Brandstatter and Hansen both missed Niles' next set of free throws and Nate Parks went 1-for-2, keeping the Vikes ahead by seven.
A three-pointer from St. Joe's David Clore brought the score to 60-56 and put the Bears back in the game with 52 seconds left.
Two made free throws from Thomas extended the lead to six and Parks went 2-for-4 on the line to give the Vikes what they thought was a comfortable 64-57 lead with 30 seconds remaining.
But another three from Clore brought St. Joe back within four points of a tie.
Hansen went 1-for-2 on the line after being fouled, but another three-pointer from Derek Knuth of the Bears brought the score to 65-63 with seven seconds left.
Tom Robson,who is suffering from a broken nose he received just two days ago, made two crucial free throw for the Vikes, putting them back up by four with six seconds left.
On St. Joe's last possession, Greg Etter nailed another from beyond the arc, but the game ended as the ball dropped into the net.
Thomas led Niles with 24 points and went 6-for-8 at the line.
Nate Parks, who made two big threes for Niles, ended the night with 13 points.
Ben Hansen added 11 points and 11 rebounds and Nick Etzcorn, who fouled out late in the fourth, was the last Viking to score in double digits with 10 points.
For the Bears, Jared Knuth had 17 points, while Brad Guinane and Clore both added 15 each.