Kelly's career-best eight steals surpassed the 169 set by Chris Sullivan '93, as he now has 175 for his career. Wheaton's 112 points match the highest single-game total in program history, with the previous time coming in February 1992. The Lyons advance to tomorrow's championship game against Rhode Island College.
Wheaton and MCLA played nip-and-tuck through the opening minutes of the first stanza, as the hosts captured a 25-20 lead with 8:42 to play. A jumper by sophomore Brent DiGiovanna (Hanover, MA/Hanover) with 8:15 remaining in the opening half sparked a daunting 20-5 run for the Lyons. That spurt was also fueled by the shooting of junior Brian Zukowski (Dracut, MA/Dracut), who ended the half with 14 points. Senior Adam Garner (North Adams, MA/Drury) kept the Trailblazers within reach with 13 first-half points, as Wheaton took a 49-31 advantage into the break. The Lyons eventually outscored MCLA, 63-33 to run away with the victory.
Fifteen of Wheaton's 16 players appeared in the scoring column, including seven double-figure performances. Zukowski tallied 17 points, while Kelly's all-around solid performance included 10 points, nine assists, eight steals and seven boards. The eight steals ranks as Wheaton's second-highest single-game steal mark in program history.
DiGiovanna was 5-of-7 from the field for 13 points, freshman Mark Sullivan (West Roxbury, MA/Catholic Memorial) was a perfect 4-of-4 from three-point range for 12 points, and classmate Patrick McDonough (Holliston, MA/Loomis Chaffee School) totaled 11 points in his Wheaton debut. Senior James Greenslit (Framingham, MA/Rivers School) and first-year Kristopher Pedra (Avon, CT/Avon) added 10 points apiece in the win. As a team, Wheaton drained 15 three-pointers, which ranks as the second-highest team total in the school's annals.
MCLA's Garner finished with a game-high 19 points on 9-of-14 shooting, while senior Thad Broughton (Peabody, MA/Saint Mary's) added 14 points in the loss.
In the first game of the tournament, Rhode Island College held off Mount Ida College, 107-95. RIC built a healthy 30-21 lead midway through the first frame, spearheaded by a pair of treys from sophomore Davon Yarbrough (New Haven, CT/Hyde). But the Mustangs clawed back and four consecutive Scott Chamberlain (Millis, MA/Millis) free throws capped a 15-5 run and put the home team ahead, 36-35. However, the rest of the half belonged to the Anchormen, as junior Brian Stanko (Swansea, MA/Joseph Case) posted 10 points during a 19-6 run to put the visitors in front, 54-42 at the half.
In the second stanza, senior Kevin Payette (Woonsocket, RI/Woonsocket) and freshman Kaseem Johnson (New Haven, CT/Hillhouse) had eight and seven points, respectively, in the early going to lift RIC to an 82-62 lead with 11:43 to play. Mount Ida battled back and brought its deficit to eight at 103-95, but would get no closer as the Anchormen hit four free throws to seal the 107-95 win.
Both teams combined for 11 players in double-figure scoring. All five of Mount Ida's starters netted double-digit point totals, but it was Doug Williams' (Ellicott City, MD/Saint Mary's) game-best 24 points off the bench that kept the Mustangs close. Chamberlain recorded 19 points and grabbed 15 boards while going 9-of-10 from the charity stripe. Senior Matt McGaughran (Taunton, MA/Coyle & Cassidy) and freshman Otis Thompson (Gardner, MA/Gardner) accounted for 11 points apiece.
For RIC, Payette registered 21 points while Johnson and Yarbrough added 19 points apiece. Stanko recorded 15 points and junior Kamari Williams (Springfield, MA/Cathedral) rounded the double-figure scorers with 10 points on the night.
Tomorrow's consolation game between MCLA and Mount Ida is slated for a 2:00 p.m. start, while Wheaton will shoot for its fifth tip-off tournament crown in the championship game against RIC at 4:00 p.m.
Newspaper Box Score Mass. College of Liberal Arts vs Wheaton College 11/18/05 7:30pm at Emerson Gymnasium, Norton, Mass. At Emerson Gymnasium, Norton, Mass. WHEATON COLLEGE 112, MASS. COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS 64 MASS. COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS (0-1) Adam Garner 9-14 0-2 19; Thad Broughton 4-12 5-7 14; JP Quintal 3-8 3-4 9; Brian Phillips 2-7 5-6 9; Brandon Pender 2-3 0-0 4; Chris Voght 1-3 1-2 3; Henry Schrader 1-2 1-2 3; Mike Callahan 1-1 1-2 3; Steve Abeillie 0-0 0-0 0; Rich Dumas 0-0 0-0 0; Mike Harmon 0-1 0-1 0. Totals 23-51 16-26 64. WHEATON COLLEGE (1-0) Brian Zukowski 5-11 4-4 17; Brent DiGiovanna 5-7 3-4 13; Mark Sullivan 4-4 0-0 12; Patrick McDonough 4-6 1-1 11; James Greenslit 5-8 0-0 10; Kristopher Pedra 3-6 2-2 10; Sean Kelly 4-9 2-2 10; Justin Brown 2-7 0-0 6; Eric Johnston 2-3 2-2 6; Patrick Youreneff 2-2 0-0 5; Jake Otto 2-6 0-0 4; Ben Davis 1-1 0-0 3; David Harding 1-2 0-0 2; Ryan McDonough 0-2 2-2 2; Nick Michel 0-1 1-2 1; Leif Kothe 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 40-76 17-19 112. Mass. College of Liberal Arts. 31 33 - 64 Wheaton College............... 49 63 - 112 3-point goals-Mass. College of Liberal Arts 2-12 (Adam Garner 1-3; Thad Broughton 1-4; Brian Phillips 0-1; Chris Voght 0-1; Mike Harmon 0-1; JP Quintal 0-2), Wheaton College 15-27 (Mark Sullivan 4-4; Brian Zukowski 3-7; Kristopher Pedra 2-3; Justin Brown 2-5; Patrick McDonough 2-3; Ben Davis 1-1; Patrick Youreneff 1-1; Sean Kelly 0-1; James Greenslit 0-2). Fouled out--Mass. College of Liberal Arts-None, Wheaton College-None. Rebounds-Mass. College of Liberal Arts 23 (Thad Broughton 4; Adam Garner 4; Henry Schrader 4), Wheaton College 46 (Sean Kelly 7). Assists-Mass. College of Liberal Arts 8 (Adam Garner 2; Thad Broughton 2; Chris Voght 2), Wheaton College 28 (Sean Kelly 9). Total fouls-Mass. College of Liberal Arts 15, Wheaton College 20. A-400