Senior center Brice Assie (Bridgeport, CT) had another brilliant game for the Colonials with a game-high 28 points on 10 of 17 shooting from the field, pulled in 12 rebounds and blocked six shots.
In a foul-marred contest, it was Assie’s fourth foul with nine seconds remaining that sent WPI’s Ryan Cain to the free throw line. Cain calmly canned the two game-winning free throws and the Engineers, 24-3, held on for the victory.
Cain finished with a team-high 18 points, but none more crucial than the final two.
The Colonials, which were down by as many as 12 points in the first half, battled back to take the lead, 47-46 on a three pointer from Western’s long-distance threat, Greg Cole (Terrytown, NY). He scored 15 of his 19 points in the second half including the go-ahead bucket with 14:20 remaining in the game. Cole and the Colonials shot a dismal 21% (6 of 28) from the field in the first half including hitting only one of nine from three-point range.
Nineteen seconds later, WestConn went up again by one point on two free throws by Jeff Gene (Bridgeport, CT), but it would be the last time it would be in front.
WPI went up by eight points when James Marois hit the front end of a two shot foul with 9:02 left in the game. The Engineers led 59-51 at that point.
Ryan Flynn and Antoine Coleman chipped in 17 and 16 points, respectively for the winners.
Gene finished with 13 points for the Colonials.
Both teams were hampered by foul trouble throughout the game as a total of 52 fouls were whistled between the two clubs. WPI had two players foul out and three others crippled with four fouls. WestConn had four players finish with four fouls and two others with three fouls.
WPI will play York (PA) in the Sweet 16 on Friday, March 11.
WestConn, which finishes the season with an impressive 24-5 record, advanced to the second round with a 73-62 victory over Endicott on Thursday night.
Western Conn vs WPI 03/05/05 7:00 PM at Harrington Auditorium, Worcester, MA At Harrington Auditorium, Worcester, MA WPI 79, WESTERN CONN 77 WESTERN CONN (24-5) Brice Assie 10-17 8-10 28; Greg Cole 6-16 1-2 19; Jeff Gene 3-9 7-8 13; Kimani Crawford 1-3 5-7 7; Jay Reginatto 2-8 2-2 7; Lamar White 0-1 2-2 2; Kyle Norfleet 0-1 1-2 1; Jason Barnett 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 22-58 26-33 77. WPI (24-3) Ryan Cain 4-15 9-10 18; Ryan Flynn 4-8 8-10 17; Antoine Coleman 7-12 2-5 16; James Marois 4-5 1-2 9; Brian Steele 2-5 4-5 8; Scott Misiaszek 2-4 2-2 6; Mike Prestileo 1-8 0-0 3; Steve Furber 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 24-59 28-36 79. Western Conn.................. 25 52 - 77 WPI........................... 33 46 - 79 3-point goals-Western Conn 7-21 (Greg Cole 6-14; Jay Reginatto 1-5; Kyle Norfleet 0-1; Jeff Gene 0-1), WPI 3-17 (Ryan Flynn 1-1; Mike Prestileo 1-5; Ryan Cain 1-7; Brian Steele 0-1; Steve Furber 0-2; James Marois 0-1). Fouled out--Western Conn-None, WPI-Scott Misiaszek; James Marois. Rebounds-Western Conn 45 (Brice Assie 12), WPI 36 (Antoine Coleman 9). Assists-Western Conn 13 (Brice Assie 2; Jason Barnett 2; Kimani Crawford 2; Jay Reginatto 2; Jeff Gene 2; Greg Cole 2), WPI 8 (Ryan Cain 3). Total fouls-Western Conn 25, WPI 27. A-1050 NCAA Championship 2nd-Round Game; Winner advances to Round of 16