Zukowski named MVP, Lyons win Salem State tournament with 75-65 decision over host Vikings in championship tilt

December 30, 2006

SALEM, MA- Senior Brian Zukowski (Dracut, MA/Dracut) earned most valuable player honors and pushed the Wheaton College men's basketball team past Salem State College, 75-65 in the championship game of the Salem State Christmas Tournament on Saturday at James Twohig Gymnasium. The Lyons improved to 6-3, while the Vikings, who received votes in the most recent D3hoops.com national poll, saw their six-game winning streak come to an end in falling to 7-2.

Zukowski provided 17 points, hitting 7-of-8 free throw attempts, while contributing six assists, six steals and five rebounds. Juniors Brent DiGiovanna (Hanover, MA/Hanover) and Eric Johnston (South Windsor, CT/East Catholic) were also each named to the all-tournament team, as DiGiovanna netted 11 points one day after collecting a double-double, and Johnston tallied a team-high 18 points in 29 minutes while matching Zukowski's showing from the charity stripe.

During a game which featured 12 ties and 11 lead changes, the Vikings led for most of the opening 10 minutes before the lead fluctuated seven times in the next 4:06, as the hosts countered a trio of Wheaton advantages by knotting the score each time. However, the seventh came when Zukowski knocked down all three free throws on a three-shot foul at 5:56 before freshman Jaxon Leo (Leesburg, VA/New Hampton School) canned a three-pointer at 4:56 to give the Lyons a 24-18 lead. Wheaton led by seven with 2:57 remaining before the intermission, but freshman Nick Tokarski (Springfield, MA/Springfield Commerce) provided assists on four straight Viking baskets during a 10-0 run to provide Salem State with a 29-26 cushion at 1:12. However, Johnston's pair of free throws with 12 ticks left put Wheaton on top, 30-29, at halftime.

Neither team led by more than four points during the first 15:34 of the second half, as seven ties were forced and the lead was exchanged six times. Senior Eric Downie's (Medford, MA/North Cambridge Catholic) jumper gave the Vikings a 56-52 edge at 6:33, but Zukowski responded with six straight points and assisted DiGiovanna's ensuing lay-up to cap an 8-0 run. Wheaton never relinquished the lead and was buoyed by hitting 10 of its final 14 field goal attempts over a 7:42 stretch while holding Salem State to 1-of-11 shooting following Downie's jumper.

Leo was Wheaton's fourth double-digit scorer, as the first-year guard added 14 points, eight rebounds and five blocks while canning a trio of three-pointers. Classmate Ben Stehle (Newton, MA/Newton South) totaled nine points and seven boards in 22 minutes off the bench. After yielding 81.0 points per game over their first six contests and at least 76 points to each of their prior eight opponents, the Lyons allowed 67 points or fewer in their final three contests of the 2006 calendar year. They also held Salem State, a team which has been to six of the last seven NCAA Tournaments, to less than 70 points for just the second time in 24 games.

Senior Brandon McCombs (Springfield, MA) tallied game highs of 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Vikings, hitting 10-of-12 free throw attempts, while Downie added 12 points and nine rebounds off the bench. Tokarski notched seven assists, six points, five rebounds and four steals, and sophomore Dylan Holmes (Groton, MA/Worcester Academy) had 10 rebounds, seven points and five blocks. Salem State outrebounded the Lyons, 51-45, but was hurt by a 1-of-17 showing from beyond the arc.

The Lyons return to action on Saturday, January 6 by opening their New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) slate at Babson College at 3:00 p.m.

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