NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Despite a career-high 27 points and a school-record 23 rebounds from senior forward Sam Herrick (Duxbury, MA), the Albertus Magnus College men's basketball team edged Wentworth, 96-95, in double overtime. The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Quarterfinal game was a thriller to the end as Wentworth missed a shot as the buzzer sounded to preserve the Falcon victory.
The first half featured a pair of runs by each team with Wentworth holding the 35-34 lead entering halftime.
Wentworth used a 7-1 run late in the second half to take a 68-58 with 4:36 remaining in the contest. Albertus responded with a 5-0 run to cut the lead following junior forward Ray Askew's (New Haven, CT) three-point play and freshman forward Chris Cagle (New Haven, CT) slashing layup with 3:56 remaining. After trading baskets, Cagle was fouled and senior guard Walden St. Juste would make both free throws after a technical foul. Trailing 72-67 with 2:05 remaining, Cagle missed both free throws with the second shot going out of bounds to Wentworth.
The Falcons forced a turnover on the out of bounds pass as sophomore guard Arshad Jackson (Hartford, CT) scored the layup after senior guard Byron Reaves (Hamden, CT/Hamden) steal and assist making the score 72-69 with just under two minutes remaining. Following a pair of Wentworth free throws by sophomore guard Corey Therriault (Auburn, ME), Askew answered with a layup of his own.
Albertus trailed 74-71 with just 26 seconds remaining when junior guard Eric Prue (Auburn, ME) was fouled, missing the first free-throw and making the second for the 75-71 lead. Askew would draw a quick foul but only make one of two cutting the lead to 75-72 with 19 seconds remaining.
The Falcons forced a turnover as junior guard Alex Muniz (Bridgeport, CT) stole the inbounds pass and got the assist as Askew scored off the glass to cut the score to 75-74 with 15 seconds remaining. Therriault would calmly swish both free throws to make game 77-74 with just 10 seconds remaining. Junior Wentworth guard Adam Dombrowski (Dunstable, MA) would be whistled for the foul with Jackson at the line for two. Jackson swished the first shot and intentionally missed the next free-throw as Askew was able to tip in the rebound with just 3.9 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 77-77. Dombrowski would take a deep three as the buzzer sounded but missed forcing a first overtime period.
The first overtime period was back and forth with the Falcons using a pair of Jackson free-throws to take the 87-84 lead with under a minute to go. After a pair of missed Albertus free-throws Wentworth had one last chance to tie the game. With just 10 seconds on the clock freshman guard Derek Mayo (Casco, ME) swished a deep three pointer to force a second overtime as the Falcons failed to get a shot off in the remaining seconds.
The second overtime period saw Wentworth surge to a pair of three point leads until Jackson made two free throws to cut the Wentworth lead to 93-92 with just over two minutes. Mayo had an open drive to the lane before Askew blocked the ball with Jackson finding a slashing sophomore forward Mike Massey (New Haven, CT/Hamden Hall) to put the Falcons on top 94-93 with 1:45 remaining. Mayo would make a layup on the next possession to give Wentworth the 95-94 lead with just over a minute remaining.
Askew missed a layup as senior forward Herrick grabbed his school record 23rd rebound of the night giving Wentworth the ball with 1:05 remaining and the 95-94 lead. Following a Mayo miss, Jackson was fouled where he calmly sank both free-throws to give the Falcons the 96-95 lead with 32.9 seconds remaining. Herrick would have his shot blocked by Askew out of bounds giving Wentworth another chance to win the game with less than ten seconds remaining. Herrick turned and shot again as his layup rimmed out and Massey secured the rebound and the win for the Falcons.
Albertus was led by Askew and his game high 31 points and team high 14 rebounds. Jackson added 24 points including 14-16 from the charity stripe. Cagle would add 14 points and six rebounds. Herrick went 9-for-17 from the floor in the loss, while Dombrowski and Therriault added 22 and 20 points, respectively. Mayo scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
The fourth-seeded Falcons travel to Eastern Connecticut State University for an ECAC Semifinal on Saturday at 5:00 PM as they take on the top-seeded Warriors, who defeated eighth-seeded Regis 66-58. The two Semifinal winners play on Sunday at 7:00 pm for the ECAC Championship. Wentworth, making its second straight ECAC Tournament berth, ends its season at 18-11.
-Story Courtesy of Albertus Magnus Sports Information-
May 20, 2011
Herrick Named to D3Hoops.com All-Star Team
March 2, 2011
Leopards Fall in Double Overtime, 96-95
February 28, 2011
Wentworth Earns Second Straight ECAC Tournament Berth
February 26, 2011
Leopards Fall in TCCC Title Game, 68-58
February 24, 2011
Leopards Advance to TCCC Title Game, 63-61
February 22, 2011
Wentworth Roars to 67-54 Win in TCCC Tournament
February 21, 2011
Herrick Named TCCC Defensive Player of the Year
February 21, 2011
Herrick, Vallone Grab TCCC Honors
February 19, 2011
Wentworth Runs Win Streak to Five With 71-58 Win
February 19, 2011
TCCC Men's Basketball Tournament Pairings Set
February 16, 2011
Wentworth Notches Fourth Straight With 74-60 Win
February 12, 2011
Men's Basketball Claims Third Straight With 64-56 Win
February 10, 2011
Wentworth Cruises to 69-55 Win Over Eastern Connecticut
February 8, 2011
Devitt Wins 100th Game as Wentworth Downs Nichols
February 5, 2011
Men's Basketball Falls to Anna Maria, 74-68
February 3, 2011
Wentworth Wins Third Straight
January 31, 2011
Dombrowski Tabbed as TCCC Co-Player of the Week
January 29, 2011
Wentworth Wins Second Straight, 76-58, Over Regis
January 27, 2011
Wentworth Breaks Away From Salve Regina, 70-67
January 22, 2011
Men's Basketball Falls to Endicott, 75-71
January 19, 2011
Wentworth Falls at Western New England, 63-54
January 18, 2011
Herrick Named TCCC Player of the Week
January 15, 2011
Wentworth Rolls to Fifth Straight Win, 64-46
January 11, 2011
Wentworth Runs Win Streak to Four
January 8, 2011
Wentworth Opens League Play With 66-40 Win
January 6, 2011
Wentworth Holds on to Top Newbury, 58-54
January 3, 2011
Strong Second Half Pushes Wentworth Past Muhlenberg
January 2, 2011
Wentworth Falls to Moravian, 81-65
December 30, 2010
Wentworth Shoots Past Gordon, 79-47
December 7, 2010
Connecticut College Snaps Wentworth's Win Streak, 66-52
December 6, 2010
Prue Named TCCC Co-Player of the Week
December 4, 2010
Men's Basketball Rolls to Second Straight Win
November 30, 2010
Men's Basketball Defeats Coast Guard, 61-48
November 22, 2010
Former Leopards Enjoying Success in England
November 20, 2010
Men's Basketball Falls to Adrian, 54-43
November 19, 2010
Men's Basketball Falls to Rowan, 69-63
November 17, 2010
Leopards Fall to Southern Maine, 68-65
November 15, 2010
Leopards Drop Season Opener, 87-80, in Overtime
November 13, 2010
Men's Basketball Picked Third in TCCC Pre-Season Poll