Wheaton captures sixth tip-off tournament championship, MVP Coppola tallies 19 in title-game win over Plymouth State

November 17, 2007

NORTON, MA- Freshman Anthony Coppola (Watertown, MA/Watertown) capped his first weekend of collegiate basketball by being named most valuable player of the 13th Wheaton Tip-Off Tournament, leading the Lyons to a 95-88 victory over Plymouth State University during Saturday's championship game in Emerson Gymnasium. Sophomore teammate Jaxon Leo (Leesburg, VA/New Hampton School) joined Coppola on the all-tournament team as the Lyons captured their sixth tip-off tournament crown. In the consolation game, Norwich University downed Fairleigh Dickinson University at Florham, 80-68.

In a rematch of last year's Plymouth State tip-off tournament title game, won by the host, the Lyons held the Panthers to 1-of-8 shooting to begin the game, as Wheaton started 8-of-14 while forging an 18-11 lead on freshman Bobby Perry's (East Providence, RI/East Providence) lay-up with 9:54 to go before halftime. Plymouth State responded with a 10-1 run, as junior Ben Huntington's (Hampstead, NH/Pinkerton Academy) jumper gave his team a 21-19 edge. Wheaton later led by as much as 39-30, as 14 of its final 23 points came on free throws.

After taking a 41-33 lead into the locker room, Wheaton received eight points from Leo during the opening 6:12 of the second half to make it 61-46, but the Panthers rallied. Huntington tallied six points during a 13-2 run over a 2:11 span to bring Plymouth State within 63-59, but Lyon senior Brent DiGiovanna (Hanover, MA/Hanover) scored four points in 27 seconds to start a 10-0 run during a 1:24 span. Down by 11 with a little more than three minutes remaining, Plymouth State received eight points from senior Chris Wilkinson (Newmarket, NH/Newmarket) during a 10-2 run that made it 88-85 with 1:45 remaining. However, Coppola's drive and lay-in with 22.4 ticks left put Wheaton back up two possessions.

Coppola led the Lyons with 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting, Leo went 6-of-8 for 16 points, and DiGiovanna had 11 points with eight rebounds. Freshmen Bud Gaffney (Berkley, MA/Northfield Mount Hermon School) provided 13 points. Huntington recorded a game-high 26 points, hitting all nine of his free throw attempts, while Wilkinson finished with 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting. The Panthers shot 18-of-19 from the charity stripe.

In the consolation game, hot three-point shooting between FDU-Florham and Norwich highlighted the opening half, as the Devils knocked down 7-of-12 attempts and the Cadets went 8-of-15 from deep. Norwich senior Jerrold Williams (Norwalk, CT/Brien McMahon) was on fire during the first 20 minutes, making 7-of-11 from the field and 5-of-8 from beyond the arc for a game-best 20 points. FDU-Florham junior Ryan McPherson (West Orange, NJ/West Orange) had a trio of threes and a team-high 14 points. Trailing 32-24 with 4:18 to go, Norwich finished on an 18-7 run, hitting its last five three-point attempts, for a 42-39 edge at the half.

The Devils made their five second-half attempts en route to a 50-49 lead at the 16:30 mark. The Cadets responded with an 8-2 spurt to retake a 57-52 advantage with 13:32 remaining. An 11-5 FDU-Florham run capped by a pair of free throws from senior Milton LaCroix (Atlanta, GA/Centennial) enabled the Devils to regain a one-point edge with 6:36 on the clock. However, Williams' jumpers at 4:58 provided Norwich a lead it would not relinquish. The Williams conversion was a part of a 16-1 run during a 3:48 span that put the game out of reach.

Williams hit 10-of-18 field goals, including 7-of-13 from deep, and finished with 34 points and nine rebounds. Junior Jamel Bedford (Queens, NY/Saint John's Prep) added 17 points and 12 rebounds. McPherson led FDU-Florham with 18 points, while junior Andrew Biancosino (Edison, NJ/J.P. Stevens) turned in a near-triple-double with 13 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. LaCroix also recorded 13 points.

In addition to Coppola and Leo being selected to the all-tournament team, FDU-Florham's McPherson, Norwich's Williams and Plymouth State's Huntington drew laurels.

This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 11/17/07.
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Upcoming Schedule

15-Nov Sat Plymouth St. Tip-Off A 7:30pm
16-Nov Sun Plymouth St. Tip-Off A TBA
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