Date: January 15, 2005
Contact: W. Scott Giglio, 973-443-8965
FDU-FLORHAM MEN’S BASKETBALL OUTLASTED BY WILKES, 72-61
MADISON, NJ – The College at Florham Devils overcame a seven-point second-half deficit and then built a six-point lead, but were beaten 72-61 by the Wilkes Colonels in a Freedom Conference game. The Devils, who lost for the first time this season at home, slip to 6-7 overall and 1-2 in conference play. The win improves the Colonels to 9-3 overall and 3-1 in the conference.
Wilkes University closed the game with an 18-4 run. The Devils had outscored the Colonels 23-10 over a 10-minute span to lead 55-49.
FDU senior center Chris Hendershot (Vernon, NJ) scored seven straight points for FDU-Florham to provide the Devils with that lead with 7:05 remaining in the game.
Wilkes countered with a John Yanniello three-pointer and a field goal inside by Evan Walters to cut the deficit to 55-54 with 6:07 showing on the clock.
After a Hendershot field goal at the 4:56 mark extended the FDU lead to 57-54, the Colonels began their decisive run. Chris Shovlin scored on a drive and then canned a three-pointer to give Wilkes the lead for good, 59-57 with 3:54 left. John Yanniello followed with two free throws and a 15-foot jumper to push the advantage to 63-57 with 2:28 left.
Holding a 65-59 lead, Wilkes scored five straight points to put the game out of reach. Yanniello scored on a drive, Shovlin hit a free throw and Constantine hit two charity tosses to push the lead to 70-59 and end any hopes of an FDU comeback.
Wilkes used an 8-0 run midway through the first half to assume a 24-17 lead. John Sclafani connected on consecutive three-pointers to give the Colonels a 22-17 advantage. Rashawn Pressley followed with two charity tosses to extend the lead to
24-17.
Trailing 30-23 with less than a minute left in the half, FDU-Florham rattled off six straight points to close to within 30-29. Junior guard Nate Lawrence (Willingboro, NJ) canned a three-pointer and senior forward Jeff Hemschoot (Little Silver, NJ) scored on a traditional three-point play four seconds left. However, the Colonels Constantine was fouled with two seconds left and hit both free throws to provide Wilkes with a 32-29 lead at halftime.
Shovlin had 17 points to lead a balanced Wilkes attack. Walters chipped in with 14 points and seven rebounds. Constantine added 13 tallies, while Yanniello had 11 points and six boards.
Hendershot finished with 26 points and 12 rebounds to lead all players in both categories. He was the only FDU-Florham player in twin digits. Hemschoot chipped in nine points and five rebounds.
The Devils will be back in action on Wednesday as they host Drew for a 7:00 pm Freedom Conference game.