WPI (22-3) held a narrow advantage for the first 14 minutes before Danny Kanamori (Brookline, MA) drained a three-pointer to give MIT (20-8) its only lead of the game at 20-19. WPI quickly responded with a 12-0 run highlighted by a three-pointer and a layup by point guard Brett Dickson (Bedford, NH) and a traditional three-point play and thunderous dunk by Antoine Coleman (Everett, MA). WPI took a 37-26 advantage into the locker room at half.
The two teams played a tightly contest second half with MIT getting as close as eight points but never trailing by more then 16. MIT struggled to find its range from three-point land, connecting on only 5-of-27 shots from behind the arc.
Dickson added 12 points for WPI while Coleman hit double figures with 11 points to go along with six rebounds. Brian Steele (Whitinsville, MA) and Ryan Cain (Webster, MA) each amassed nine points and five rebounds while Ryan Bourque (Nashua, NH) corralled a team-best seven boards.
Freshman Jimmy Bartolotta (Littleton, CO) topped all players with 21 points and 11 rebounds for MIT, while Mike D’Auria (Newton, MA) chipped with 13 points. Alex Krull (Boxford, MA) added 10 points and five rebounds and Hamidou Soumare (Bamako, Mali) hauled in seven boards.
Last season WPI made its first appearance in the NCAA Championships in nearly twenty years, advancing to the sectionals before losing to eventual national semifinalist York (PA).
MIT holds out hope for an at-large bid to the NCAA Championships. A berth would be the first in the 105 year history of the program. Selections can be viewed at D3hoops.com and NCAAsports.com on Sunday evening with brackets scheduled to be posted Monday morning.
Newspaper Box Score MIT vs WPI 2/26/06 1:00pm at Worcester, MA At Worcester, MA WPI 69, MIT 56 MIT (20-8) Jimmy Bartolotta 7-13 5-5 21; Mike D'Auria 4-18 4-4 13; Alex Krull 2-10 5-6 10; Danny Kanamori 2-7 0-0 5; Phil Murray 1-1 1-2 3; Hamidou Soumare 1-2 0-0 2; Gary Atkins 1-3 0-0 2; Will Mroz 0-6 0-0 0; Bradley Gampel 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 18-61 15-17 56. WPI (22-3) Ryan Flynn 7-7 4-7 20; Brett Dickson 4-8 2-2 12; Antoine Coleman 5-11 1-1 11; Ryan Cain 3-9 2-2 9; Brian Steele 1-7 6-6 9; James Marois 1-4 3-4 6; Ryan Bourque 1-3 0-0 2; Kyle Gustafson 0-0 0-0 0; Steve Furber 0-0 0-0 0; NT Izuchi 0-0 0-0 0; Adam Lirette 0-0 0-0 0; Sean Ivey 0-0 0-0 0; Mike Prestileo 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 22-51 18-22 69. MIT........................... 26 30 - 56 WPI........................... 37 32 - 69 3-point goals-MIT 5-27 (Jimmy Bartolotta 2-4; Danny Kanamori 1-6; Alex Krull 1-6; Mike D'Auria 1-6; Will Mroz 0-5), WPI 7-17 (Brett Dickson 2-4; Ryan Flynn 2-2; Ryan Cain 1-5; James Marois 1-2; Brian Steele 1-2; Mike Prestileo 0-1; Antoine Coleman 0-1). Fouled out--MIT-None, WPI-None. Rebounds-MIT 38 (Jimmy Bartolotta 11), WPI 38 (Ryan Bourque 7). Assists-MIT 6 (Mike D'Auria 3), WPI 13 (James Marois 4). Total fouls-MIT 20, WPI 14. A-1050 2006 NEWMAC Men's Basketball Tournament Championship Game