The Lyons improved to 16-9 and will participate in their seventh semifinal game in the NEWMAC's eight-year history when they travel to top seed Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. The other NEWMAC semifinal will pit second-seeded Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) against number three United States Coast Guard Academy in a 3:00 p.m. contest at WPI. Springfield will not be among the NEWMAC's semifinals participants for the first time in league history, as the Pride finishes its season with a 10-16 mark.
Wheaton used a balanced scoring effort and accurate shooting in maintaining a lead from their first hoop until the halftime buzzer. Sophomore Brent DiGiovanna (Hanover, MA/Hanover) scored Wheaton's first six points, and the Lyons took an early 8-2 lead. After Springfield junior Anthony Pizzo's (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) coast-to-coast rush brought the Pride within 10-9, Zukowski canned a pair of threes 51 seconds apart to give the hosts some breathing room, as he and DiGiovanna each scored eight of the Lyons' first 16 points.
Down 18-9, the Pride rallied behind five points from senior Brian Riley (Worcester, MA/Saint Mary's) and drew within 26-25 at 5:17 on Pizzo's lay-up. However, senior Sean Kelly (Providence, RI/Wheeler School) canned a three at 3:14 to cap Wheaton's 10-2 run, and the Lyons led by a 36-27 score. Zukowski hit a jumper with three seconds left to give the hosts a 41-33 advantage heading into the locker room.
DiGiovanna and Zukowski each ended up with 10 first-half points, while sophomore Jake Otto (Glastonbury, CT/Glastonbury) tallied seven points, including a breakaway dunk after a steal. The Lyons shot 14-of-27 from the floor and 10-of-11 on free throws. For Springfield, senior Derek Yvon (East Longmeadow, MA/Cathedral) had a game-high 11 points, hitting all six free throw attempts to pace an 8-of-9 team effort.
Wheaton continued to maintain its three-possession advantage early in the second stanza, as DiGiovanna tipped home a missed three for a 44-37 lead at 16:50. From there, the Pride scored the next eight points, corralling its first lead of the game on Riley's offensive board and putback at 14:57. Senior Mike DeCesar (Acton, MA/Acton-Boxborough Regional) hit a jumper to cap a 14-3 jaunt and give Springfield a 51-47 edge with 12:17 to go. Kelly and Yvon traded long-range hoops before the Lyons rallied to tie on Kelly's free throw at 9:56, the first of six deadlocks over a 6:20 span. The lead also changed hands five times during that stretch.
Otto came up with crucial baskets during the last few minutes, converting three consecutive Wheaton hoops over a 2:44 span that broke a tie and put the Lyons on top. At 3:04, Otto nabbed a teammate's missed three-point attempt and tallied a lay-in to give the Blue and White a 69-67 edge and the lead for good. Yvon brought Springfield to within 71-70 on a three, but Otto corralled a loose ball and found Zukowski for a three-pointer at 1:23, and Zukowski and DiGiovanna combined to go 8-of-8 on free throw attempts during the final 32 seconds.
Zukowski's scoring performance came on 8-of-17 shooting, including 4-of-6 from beyond the arc, and a 9-of-9 showing from the charity stripe. DiGiovanna turned in 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting, Otto tallied a career-high 13 points by going 6-of-9, and Kelly recorded 11 points. As a team, the Lyons were 23-of-27 on free throws.
Yvon led the Pride with 25 points, while Riley accumulated 15 points and eight rebounds. Junior Damian Farley (Natick, MA/Natick) notched 10 points and nine rebounds, and Pizzo collected a game-high six assists. Springfield shot 64.5 percent in the second half, going 20-of-31, but did not attempt a free throw.
Newspaper Box Score Springfield College vs Wheaton College 2/21/06 7:00 p.m. at Emerson Gymnasium, Norton, Mass. At Emerson Gymnasium, Norton, Mass. WHEATON COLLEGE 82, SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE 78 SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE (10-16) Derek Yvon 8-20 6-6 25; Brian Riley 7-13 1-2 15; Damian Farley 5-8 0-0 10; Mike DeCesar 4-7 0-0 8; Anthony Pizzo 3-6 0-0 6; Jamaal Gibbs 2-2 0-0 6; Jim Mack 2-5 0-0 5; John Strawson 1-1 1-1 3; Zachary Mitzan 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 32-62 8-9 78. WHEATON COLLEGE (16-9) Brian Zukowski 8-17 9-9 29; Brent DiGiovanna 6-9 4-4 16; Jake Otto 6-9 1-1 13; Sean Kelly 3-9 2-5 11; James Greenslit 3-6 2-2 8; David Harding 0-1 3-4 3; Eric Johnston 0-1 2-2 2; Kristopher Pedra 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 26-54 23-27 82. Springfield College........... 33 45 - 78 Wheaton College............... 41 41 - 82 3-point goals-Springfield College 6-15 (Derek Yvon 3-9; Jamaal Gibbs 2-2; Jim Mack 1-1; Mike DeCesar 0-2; Anthony Pizzo 0-1), Wheaton College 7-16 (Brian Zukowski 4-6; Sean Kelly 3-6; James Greenslit 0-3; Kristopher Pedra 0-1). Fouled out--Springfield College-Anthony Pizzo, Wheaton College-None. Rebounds-Springfield College 31 (Damian Farley 9), Wheaton College 27 (Brian Zukowski 6; Sean Kelly 6). Assists-Springfield College 12 (Anthony Pizzo 6), Wheaton College 10 (Sean Kelly 3). Total fouls-Springfield College 20, Wheaton College 15. A-435 NEWMAC Tournament First Round Game