Despite leading by only seven (39-32) at the break, Graham’s three ball put the exclamation point on a 23-8 Williams run that saw Trinity’s final lead of the night evaporate.
The first five minutes of the second half were more of the same as the Ephs rattled off 11 straight points to up their lead to 18 en route to an 81-64 win in Chandler Gymnasium on Friday night.
With undefeated and top-ranked Amherst looming on Saturday, Friday night’s contest proved to be one where the defensive intensity of the Ephs proved to be too much for the Bantams’ flex offense to overcome.
“They had 20 points in the first 10 minutes of the game,” Williams head coach Dave Paulsen said. “Then we just ratcheted up our defensive intensity towards the end of the first half.”
With the win, the Ephs improved to 14-1 overall and 2-0 in NESCAC play. The Bantams fell to 14-1 (1-1).
Senior tri-captain Ben Coffin, who with his 14 points became the 22nd player in school history to top the 1,000 point plateau, agreed.
“We were happy with our defensive effort,” he said. “They ran a flex offense and our defense is really good at taking away cuts. We helped really well as a team and it was a total team effort defensively.”
In the first ten minutes, no style of defense could have slowed the Bantams, Tyler Rhoten in particular. Rhoten scored 16 of his game-high 20 points in the first half, but was held completely in check once Coffin switched to mark him.
“If we defend, that’s where everything starts in our program,” Paulsen said.
After a slow start offensively, the Ephs shooting woke up thanks to the inside presence of Coffin and sophomore reserve Andrew Newton. After the duo got things going in the paint, the seas parted for the outside shooters.
Abba and senior tri-captain Michael Crotty each had two three-pointers apiece, while Graham, Casey Gibbons and Tucker Kain each buried one of their own.
Crotty paced the Williams attack with nine assists and added 12 points of his own, while Kain scored a team-high 15 points. Newton, who played brilliantly off the bench, provided a much-needed spark in scoring 13 points, including eight in the first half when the Ephs needed any and every bit of offensive help.
“I thought [Andrew] Newton and [Mike} Graham provided big sparks,” Paulsen said.
Paulsen also praised Coffin for topping the 1,000-point mark, saying, “Ben has been a phenomenal player for us. He has become a leader and it’s great to see the emotion he plays with now. For him to score 1000 points and work as hard as he does defensively is a real tribute to him.”
Coffin, however, preferred to focus on the benefit of tonight’s win and the looming battle with the Lord Jeffs.
“I’m more happy we won tonight,” he said. “And, if we get a win tomorrow, that’s bigger than any individual accomplishment.”
The win was the 49th straight for the Ephs at Chandler Gym. The last loss coming at the hands of – who else – Amherst on January 13, 2001.
For the Ephs to tie their longest home winning streak ever (50), they will need to come out with the same intensity, focus, and poise that they did on Friday in front of a capacity crowd.
And while there is little need for extra motivation when facing rival Amherst, the Lord Jeffs will enter the contest bearing the “X” on their backs that comes with the number-one ranking in the Nation.