BEHIND EVANS, WESTERN M-BASKETBALL HOLDS OFF EASTERN
In 74-69 win, Colonials use 17-2 run in first half to gain split of regular-season series
DANBURY, Conn. -- Sparked by its only three three-point field goals of the game, the Western Connecticut State University men’s basketball team outscored Eastern Connecticut State University 17-2 late in the first half on the way to a 74-69 Little East Conference victory Tuesday night at the O’Neil Center.
The win is the fourth straight for Western (13-8, 7-4 little east), which takes over sole possession of second place in the conference, one game ahead of Eastern (11-10, 6-5 little east). The Warriors have lost their last three conference road decisions.
Eastern, which had beaten Western by a point in the final seconds the last two times the teams had met, never led again after the Colonials ran off a 17-2 spurt to turn an eight-point deficit into a seven-point, 38-31 lead with a minute left in the first half.
All three of Western’s three-point field goals (in 21 attempts) came during its three-minute run. Junior guard Jay Reginatto, limited to three points in nine minutes in his team’s earlier loss to Eastern had two of the three three-pointers. Western was 7-for-11 from the floor in the stretch while Eastern scored on only one of seven possessions.
Senior forward Marvin Evans dominated offensively and on the boards for Western, finishing with game-high totals of 27 points and 18 rebounds. The 2003 conference playoff MVP was 10-for-17 from the floor and 7-for-9 from the free throw line.
While Eastern never again led after Western’s late first-half spurt, the Warriors scored six straight points in the second half to tie the game 61-all with five minutes left. However, Evans answered immediately by scoring six of eight straight Western points to put his team in control, 69-61 with just over two minutes left. Evans started the run by completing a three-point play with a free throw after grabbing an offensive rebound and, moments later, dunked an offensive rebound.
Senior guard Gordon Shepard (WATERBURY) led Eastern with 15 points, junior forward Jeroy Smith (NEW HAVEN) and freshman guard Matt Albon (MIDDLEBURY) adding 14 and senior forward Michael Kipphut 11. Smith led Eastern with eight rebounds, Albon pulling down six. Albon had two
steals and an assist when Eastern reeled off six straight points to tie the game in the second half.
Behind Evans, Western outrebounded Eastern 48-36 and shot 57.4 per cent from inside three-point range. Reginbatto followed Evans with 14 points and four assists, with junior Brice Assie finishing with ten points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots in 22 minutes.
Eastern visits Albertus Magnus College Thursday at 7 p.m. in a non-conference game.