The Jeffs were ice cold in the first frame, connecting on just 10-of-43 attempts from the field, including a four-for-24 showing from behind the arc. They only managed to stay in the game due to an outstanding effort on the glass as they outrebounded the Mules 29-18, including a 16-1 advantage on the offensive end. Colby never established a secure lead until the final two minutes of the half as junior center Drew Cohen (Briarcliff Manor, NY) scored five straight points to give the Mules a seven-point edge at the break.
Colby’s lead wouldn’t last long in the second session as the Jeffs came out firing. They drained six of their first eight three-point attempts, including a bomb from the right corner from junior Dan Wheeler (Bloomington, MN) to give Amherst the lead for good at the 15:14-mark. Wheeler continued to get the Jeffs’ blood flowing as he took a fast break feed from sophomore Andrew Olson (San Diego, CA) and ripped home a one-handed dunk to put Amherst up 50-42 just inside the 12:58-mark. The Jeffs’ onslaught of the glass continued down the stretch as they continually got multiple chances on the offensive end, while limiting the Mules to one-and-done on defense.
Colby senior Nate Dick (N. Attleboro, MA) tried to keep the Mules in it down the stretch, scoring their final seven points of the game, but Amherst’s second-half offense was relentless, stretching the lead to its biggest of the game as the final horn sounded.
Senior co-captain John Casnocha (San Francisco, CA) paced Amherst with 17 points, on five threes, five rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals. Fellow co-captain John Bedford (Ridgewood, NJ) finished close behind with 16 points and eight boards, while sophomore Matt Goldsmith (Morristown, NJ) tallied a career-high 15 points and eight caroms. Olson posted his second double-double of the season, notching 13 points and 10 assists, and Wheeler scored 10 points and grabbed eight rebounds, all on the offensive end. Sophomore center Kevin Hopkins (Saratoga Springs, NY) was big on the glass as well, hauling in seven boards.
Cohen had an outstanding game for Colby, racking up 28 points, five rebounds and five blocks. Dick was the only other Mule in double-figures with 12, while junior teammate Nick Farrell (Aspen, CO) posted seven points and seven assists.
Amherst returns to action Tuesday at 7 p.m. at non-conference opponent Brandeis University.
Official Basketball Box Score
Colby College vs Amherst College
1/28/06 3 p.m. at Amherst, MA
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VISITORS: Colby College 6-12/0-5
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
0 Drew Cohen.......... * 8-15 2-3 10-16 0 5 5 3 28 0 4 5 1 37
11 Mackenzie Simpson... * 0-1 0-1 2-2 0 2 2 2 2 1 3 0 0 31
13 Nick Farrell........ * 3-12 1-6 0-0 0 3 3 2 7 7 4 0 1 37
20 Nate Dick........... * 5-8 2-3 0-0 1 3 4 0 12 0 1 0 0 33
3 Mark Gaudet......... * 2-4 1-1 0-2 0 5 5 3 5 1 2 1 3 37
2 Arthur Cutrone...... 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
23 Pat Featherston..... 0-1 0-0 0-0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
41 Jon Bandi........... 1-2 0-0 1-2 0 3 3 2 3 0 0 0 1 15
43 Preston Decker...... 0-1 0-0 2-2 0 1 1 0 2 0 1 0 0 6
TEAM................ 2 6 8
Totals.............. 19-45 6-14 15-24 4 28 32 12 59 9 15 6 6 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 9-21 42.9% 2nd Half: 10-24 41.7% Game: 42.2% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 4-11 36.4% 2nd Half: 2-3 66.7% Game: 42.9% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 11-14 78.6% 2nd Half: 4-10 40.0% Game: 62.5% 5
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HOME TEAM: Amherst College 16-2/4-1
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
22 John Bedford........ * 6-20 2-9 2-2 5 3 8 3 16 2 1 0 2 37
33 John Casnocha....... * 6-14 5-12 0-0 1 4 5 1 17 3 1 2 2 29
34 Dan O'Shea.......... * 1-2 0-0 0-0 3 1 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 18
41 Dan Wheeler......... * 4-15 2-8 0-0 8 0 8 1 10 3 2 0 0 28
5 Andrew Olson........ * 4-12 3-6 2-2 0 3 3 1 13 10 2 0 2 33
15 Adolphe Coulibaly... 0-3 0-3 0-0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 5
20 Tim McLaughlin...... 1-2 1-2 0-0 0 3 3 0 3 1 1 0 2 7
21 Ray Corrigan........ 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 0 0 6
24 Brian Baskauskas.... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2
30 Matt Goldsmith...... 6-10 1-3 2-3 4 4 8 2 15 1 0 0 0 18
32 Fletcher Walters.... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3
4 Mike Salerno........ 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
44 Kevin Hopkins....... 0-1 0-0 0-0 1 6 7 3 0 0 0 0 0 8
55 Brandon Jones....... 1-2 0-0 0-0 2 0 2 2 2 0 0 0 1 5
TEAM................ 1 1 2
Totals.............. 29-81 14-43 6-7 25 26 51 18 78 23 9 5 11 200
TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 10-43 23.3% 2nd Half: 19-38 50.0% Game: 35.8% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 4-24 16.7% 2nd Half: 10-19 52.6% Game: 32.6% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 2-2 100 % 2nd Half: 4-5 80.0% Game: 85.7% 0
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Officials: Mike Deary, John Miller, Steve Kirck
Technical fouls: Colby College-None. Amherst College-None.
Attendance: 400
Score by Periods 1st 2nd Total
Colby College................. 33 26 - 59
Amherst College............... 26 52 - 78