Coppola, Michel help Wheaton snap skid, push past Springfield in overtime

January 30, 2008

NORTON, MA- The Wheaton College men's basketball team jumped out to a 10-point lead in overtime after rallying from an 11-point deficit midway through the second half, and the Lyons held off Springfield College, 77-72 during New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action on Wednesday night in Emerson Gymnasium. The Lyons snapped a three-game losing streak in improving to 11-6 overall, including 2-4 in league play, while the Pride is now 7-11 and 2-4. Wheaton matched its 2006-07 win total.

After heading into overtime in a 62-all ballgame, the Lyons scored 11 of the extra session's first 12 points, capturing a 73-63 advantage with 2:25 remaining. Freshman Anthony Coppola (Watertown, MA/Watertown), who finished with a game-best 31 points, had five points during that time, as the Lyons hit their first three field goal attempts. Three players scored during an ensuing 6-0 Springfield run that took only 57 seconds, but junior Wheaton Nick Michel (Hyde Park, MA/Boston Latin School) grabbed a critical offensive rebound late in the shot clock with 34 seconds remaining, and senior Brent DiGiovanna (Hanover, MA/Hanover) hit all four of his free throw tries during the last 28.3 seconds.

Wheaton only forced the extra period by turning a 51-40 deficit with 12:40 remaining in regulation into a 56-53 lead at 6:23, as Coppola hit two three-pointers during the run before sophomore Jaxon Leo (Leesburg, VA/New Hampton School) scored the final five points. Springfield countered with a 7-0 run, and the visitors still led by four before Michel sank two free throws at 1:41. Freshman Ryan Sasso (Peabody, MA/Bishop Fenwick) hit a free throw with 51.8 ticks remaining, and Michel snagged a missed Pride three-pointer before being making the tying freebie with 6.5 seconds left. A full-court Springfield rush ensued, but its winning attempt was off the mark.

To begin the game, Wheaton ran out to an 11-0 lead after 2:52, as Coppola scored the first nine points and hit all four of his field goal attempts. The visitors quickly regrouped, shooting 11-of-15 while embarking on a 27-8 run that occurred over a 10:14 span. Six Pride players scored in that time, with senior Gregg Daly (Farmington, CT/Farmington) and sophomore Ryan Blackmon (Stamford, CT/Trinity Catholic) tallying seven points apiece.

After Leo's bucket at 17:08, Wheaton was held to just one field goal before senior Jake Otto (Glastonbury, CT/Glastonbury) scored with 7:37 to go in the half. In between, the Lyons shot 1-of-13 while hitting four free throw attempts. Wheaton trailed by a 33-26 count 3:13 before halftime, but Coppola canned a three, Leo hit two free throws, and another pair of freebies from Coppola knotted the contest at 33 at 1:52. However, Daly's lay-up with 1:35 left gave Springfield a 35-33 edge heading into the locker room.

By halftime, Coppola had 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including a 3-of-3 showing from beyond the arc. For the game, Coppola notched his third 30-point contest of the season, shooting 11-of-16 from the field, including 6-of-8 on three-point tries. Michel tallied 10 points after halftime while finishing with 12 overall and nabbing a career-high 15 rebounds. Michel shot 6-of-7 on free throws, while Leo hit all seven tries from the charity stripe and tallied 15 points. Wheaton, which went 8-of-8 on overtime free throw attempts, finished 25-of-28 for the game, as its percentage of 89.3 was the eighth-best showing in program history.

Junior John Strawson (Torrington, CT/Torrington) tallied a double-double for Springfield with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Daly had 17 points. Blackmon added 11 points and six boards, while senior Jamaal Gibbs (Norwalk, CT/Brien McMahon) had 11 points, four assists and three steals. Sophomore Pat Crean (Sleepy Hollow, NY/Sleepy Hollow) tallied nine points, six assists and four steals. The Pride shot 4-of-14 in overtime.

The Lyons complete a short two-game homestand with a NEWMAC contest against Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. in the back end of a doubleheader with the women's team.

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