Zukowski nets 29 points to lead Wheaton past Springfield in first round of NEWMAC Tournament

February 21, 2006

NORTON, MA- Junior Brian Zukowski (Dracut, MA/Dracut) netted 19 of his career-high tying 29 points in the second half, including six free throws in the final 32 seconds, as the fourth-seeded Wheaton College men's basketball team downed number-five Springfield College, 82-78 in the first round of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament on Tuesday evening at Emerson Gymnasium.

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.

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