Springfield's last-second shot dooms Wheaton in NEWMAC action, 71-69

February 10, 2007

NORTON, MA- Junior Jamaal Gibbs (Norwalk, CT/Brien McMahon) capped a 21-point day by banking in a game-winning jumper with 3.3 seconds remaining to lift Springfield College to a 71-69 victory over Wheaton College in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action on Saturday at Emerson Gymnasium. The Lyons fell to 10-12 overall and 3-8 in the league, while the Pride is 11-12 and 6-4.

Gibbs' hoop negated a late rally by the Lyons, as junior Jake Otto (Glastonbury, CT/Glastonbury) canned a three-pointer to bring Wheaton within 69-66 with 18 seconds left, and classmate Brent DiGiovanna (Hanover, MA/Hanover) followed a pair of missed Springfield free throws with a long three to tie the game with 8.8 ticks to go. However, Gibbs helped the visitors quickly go the length of the court before dropping in his shot.

Wheaton ran out to a 13-3 lead at 14:47 of the first half by hitting five of its first seven shots, including three of four from beyond the arc, as DiGiovanna, junior Eric Johnston (South Windsor, CT/East Catholic) and sophomore Pat Youreneff (Belle Mead, NJ/Montgomery) each connected from deep. Gibbs took over from there, scoring 11 straight Pride points during a 2:59 stretch to bring the visitors within 17-15 at 11:19. Gibbs later hit a three-pointer to bring Springfield within 23-22, and freshman Ryan Blackmon (Stamford, CT/Trinity Catholic) put the Pride on top for the first time at 24-23 with a pair of freebies with 7:34 to go.

Springfield twice pushed its lead out to five, last when junior Gregg Daly (Farmington, CT/Farmington) canned a three to make it 33-28, but Wheaton senior Brian Zukowski (Dracut, MA/Dracut) dished off on a Johnston three-pointer, hit a jumper and then tied the game at 37 with a pair of free throws with 18 seconds left in the half. However, sophomore John Strawson (Torrington, CT/Torrington) hit a lay-up high off the glass with three ticks to go and gave Springfield a 39-37 edge at the break. Wheaton shot 56.0 percent in the period, going 5-of-12 from three-point range. The Pride held an 18-10 rebounding edge and shot 50.0 percent, led by Gibbs' 14 points.

Zukowski's leaner in the lane 15 seconds into the second half knotted the game before he dished off to Youreneff, who hit a three to give Wheaton a 42-39 lead. DiGiovanna later scored six straight points for the Blue and White as the Lyons twice went back up by 10, last when Youreneff drove and dished to freshman Ben Stehle (Newton, MA/Newton South), whose lay-in made it 54-44 at 11:52.

However, Blackmon drained a three at 11:11 to bring Springfield within 54-49, and he later scored five straight points before dishing off as Gibbs connected from deep to tie the game at 59 with 5:41 to go. Zukowski put the Lyons back on top 19 seconds later before DiGiovanna hit a baseline jumper to make it 63-59, but Pride senior Anthony Pizzo (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) hit a three-pointer before driving for a go-ahead lay-up at 2:29. Springfield hit three of four free throw attempts to go up by six and set up the exciting finish.

DiGiovanna led the Lyons with 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including 2-of-3 from beyond the arc, while Zukowski added 13 points and six assists. Youreneff contributed career highs of eight points and five assists, including a pair of three-pointers. Johnston posted eight points, while Otto had seven points, five rebounds and four assists. The Lyons finished shooting 56.3 percent from the floor, including 9-of-20 from deep.

Gibbs' 21 points came on 9-of-16 shooting, and he added six rebounds and four assists. Blackmon had 17 points and five assists, while Strawson added 12 points. Pizzo, who needed two assists to tie the program's career record, picked up a trio of helpers during the victory to up his total to 509.

The Lyons travel to 20th-ranked Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) for their NEWMAC finale on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.

This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 2/10/07.
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