Men's hoops falls in road NEWMAC contest to Springfield, 70-58

January 17, 2007

SPRINGFIELD, MA- The Wheaton College men's basketball team saw a five-point lead early in the second half wiped out during a 70-58 loss to Springfield College on Wednesday evening in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action at Blake Arena. The Lyons fell to 8-7 overall and 1-4 in the league, while the Pride improved to 8-9 and 3-1. The hosts avenged a season-ending loss to Wheaton in last year's conference tournament

The Lyons twice trailed by four points in the opening five-plus minutes of the first half until a 6-0 run gave them their first lead, an 8-6 edge at 11:52. After a pair of ties, the Pride took a 17-12 lead at 7:01, but Wheaton junior David Harding (Hanover, MA/Boston College) nailed a jumper off of freshman Jaxon Leo's (Leesburg, VA/New Hampton School) pass before Leo canned a three-pointer to knot things up thanks to an assist by junior Brent DiGiovanna (Hanover, MA/Hanover) at 5:47.

After junior Jamaal Gibbs's (Norwalk, CT/Brien McMahon) jumper gave Springfield the lead back, the Lyons responded with nine straight points, as DiGiovanna tallied three hoops during a 1:13 span before senior Brian Zukowski (Dracut, MA/Dracut) converted a three-point play to put the visitors on top, 26-19 at the three-minute mark. However, Pride freshman Ryan Blackmon (Stamford, CT/Trinity Catholic) recorded a personal 6-0 run to end the half, as Wheaton held a 26-25 edge.

Wheaton led at the half despite shooting 36.7 percent in the first period thanks to committing only four turnovers, while the Pride shot 33.3 percent and had seven giveaways.

DiGiovanna's lay-up with 15:42 to go in the game gave the visitors a 32-27 lead, but the Pride stormed back with the next 11 points during a 2:33 stretch. Wheaton junior Eric Johnston (South Windsor, CT/East Catholic) knocked down a jumper to bring his team within 40-38 at 10:51, but the Lyons came no closer than four points from there. Springfield later used a 10-2 run over 3:52 to take a 56-44 lead with 4:34 left.

Johnston led the Lyons with 13 points, going 7-of-8 from the charity stripe during 13 minutes off the bench. DiGiovanna was next with 12 points and six rebounds, while Harding turned in seven boards. Leo finished with nine points and six rebounds, Zukowski added nine points, and junior Jake Otto (Glastonbury, CT/Glastonbury) notched nine points thanks to 5-of-5 free throw shooting as a reserve. Wheaton shot 17-of-20 on free throws in the second half, and 19-of-23 for the game, but was hurt by a 7-of-28 showing from the field in the final period.

Gibbs tallied 19 points and nine rebounds, while Blackmon notched 18 points and eight boards off the bench. Freshman Pat Crean (Sleepy Hollow, NY/Sleepy Hollow) scored 13 points, and senior Anthony Pizzo (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) contributed nine assists. The Pride committed only two turnovers in the second stanza.

Wheaton returns to action on Saturday, when the Lyons take on the United States Coast Guard Academy at 2:00 p.m. in Emerson Gymnasium. The Bears downed the Blue and White, 69-56 on January 9.

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