Elms College won its season-high seventh straight game to finish the regular season 19-6 overall, 14-1 NAC. The Blazers secured the NAC West Division title and can tie last year’s school-record for wins in a season on Tuesday, February 21 in the quarterfinal round of the NAC Tournament against an opponent to be determined.
Johnson State, which went 5-21 a year ago, finished its 2005-06 season 7-18 overall, 2-13 NAC.
The Blazers led by only five (41-36) at intermission before going on a 20-6 run in the first 6:02 of the second half to put the game out of reach.
Despite shooting 41.6-percent for the game, the Blazers held a decisive edge in total rebounds (64-35), including 29-9 on the offensive boards.
Elms College had four players reach double figures in the victory, as senior forward Lonnie Branyon III (West Haven, CT) netted 16 points, freshman forward Antoine Holder (Hartford, CT) registered his fifth double-double of the year with 12 points and 10 rebounds and sophomore forward Nathan Hawes (New Hope, MN) finished with 10 points.
Johnson State received a team-high 20-point effort from senior forward Frank Ponte (Harwinton, CT) in the loss.
Newspaper Box Score Johnson State College vs Elms College 02/18/06 3:00 p.m. at Chicopee, MA At Chicopee, MA ELMS COLLEGE 96, JOHNSON STATE COLLEGE 68 JOHNSON STATE COLLEGE (7-18, 2-13 NAC) Frank Ponte 9-20 1-2 20; Shane Levine 6-9 1-3 13; Billy Durbrow 5-8 2-3 12; Tim Santarcangelo 3-8 0-0 8; Charlie Viana 2-7 0-0 6; Zach Gervais 1-2 2-3 5; Jay Allen 1-4 2-4 4; Mike Bosch 0-2 0-0 0; Chris Lamica 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 27-64 8-15 68. ELMS COLLEGE (19-6, 14-1 NAC) David Williams 7-15 5-6 22; Lonnie Branyon III 7-16 2-3 16; Antoine Holder 5-12 2-3 12; Nathan Hawes 5-9 0-0 10; John Ancrum 1-4 5-6 7; Randy Hite 3-8 0-0 6; William Beauregard 2-7 0-0 5; Malakie Berry 2-3 0-0 4; Ellis Jones 1-3 2-2 4; Anthony Bernard 2-3 0-0 4; Justin Davis 1-2 0-0 3; Hakeem Trotman 1-1 0-0 3; Derek Murphy, Jr. 0-1 0-0 0; Joe Esile 0-3 0-0 0; Jacque Rivera 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 37-89 16-20 96. Johnson State College......... 36 32 - 68 Elms College.................. 41 55 - 96 3-point goals-Johnson State College 6-20 (Tim Santarcangelo 2-5; Charlie Viana 2-5; Zach Gervais 1-2; Frank Ponte 1-4; Mike Bosch 0-1; Chris Lamica 0-2; Jay Allen 0-1), Elms College 6-25 (David Williams 3-7; William Beauregard 1-5; Hakeem Trotman 1-1; Justin Davis 1-2; John Ancrum 0-2; Randy Hite 0-1; Ellis Jones 0-1; Derek Murphy, Jr. 0-1; Joe Esile 0-3; Antoine Holder 0-2). Fouled out--Johnson State College-None, Elms College-None. Rebounds-Johnson State College 35 (Billy Durbrow 7), Elms College 64 (Antoine Holder 10). Assists-Johnson State College 11 (Frank Ponte 3), Elms College 11 (John Ancrum 4). Total fouls-Johnson State College 16, Elms College 20. A-109 Elms College wins seventh straight game. Johnson State College concludes 2005-06 season 7-18, 2-13 NAC. Elms College wins regular season NAC West Division title.