November 30, 2008
MBB: ASSUMPTION RALLIES FOR 79-76 NE-10 WIN OVER LE
MOYNE
Syracuse, N.Y. - Forward Greg Twomey scored a game-high 27 points
to lead Assumption to a come-from-behind 79-76 win over the Le
Moyne College men's basketball team on Sunday afternoon at Ted
Grant Court. Le Moyne falls to 2-3 on the season, 2-2 in the
Northeast-10 Conference, while Assumption evens its record at 3-3,
2-2 in conference play.
Le Moyne jumped out to a 32-12 lead with 8:56 remaining in the
opening half behind the inside play of junior forward
Laurence Ekperigin (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Walter
Panas) and shooting of freshman guard Christopher
Johnson (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst). Ekperigin tallied
seven of the Dolphins' opening 10 points to put Le Moyne ahead 10-4
just 2:39 into the contest. After entering the game with Le Moyne
leading 14-8 with 15:53 remaining, Johnson scored 15 of the next 18
points for the Dolphins to open up a game-best 20-point
advantage.
Following a timeout by the Greyhounds after Johnson's third
three-pointer of the stanza, Assumption closed out the half with a
21-10 run to cut Le Moyne's lead to single-digits at the
intermission. Twomey recorded seven points in the span for
Assumption, while reserve guard Kevin Donahue connected on a pair
of three-pointers.
After Ekperigin converted a layup in the paint for the Dolphins,
Assumption scored 17 of the second half's next 19 points to take a
50-46 lead with 14:40 remaining in the game. Guard Mitch Bajema
pulled the Greyhounds within a basket with a three-pointer and
classmate Patrick Shea evened the score at 46 apiece with a pair of
free throws with 15:36 left in the contest. Consecutive baskets by
Mike Balderelli and Savoy Fraine gave Assumption a four-point lead
with 14:40 to go in the stanza.
Freshman guard James Cormier (Trumbull,
Conn./Trumbull/Proctor Academy) ended a 3:18 scoring
drought for the Dolphins with a jump shot at the 14:24 mark.
Assumption answered with a 15-8 run to extend its lead to nine at
65-56 on a layup by Twomey with 6:53 remaining. Six Greyhounds
scored in the span they opened their largest lead of the game.
Cormier jumpstarted a 13-5 run with a three-pointer and capped the
streak with a jumper to pull the Dolphins to within one (70-69)
with 2:52 remaining in the contest. Twomey closed out the game for
the Greyhounds with a fast-break layup and two free throws to hold
off Le Moyne's comeback attempt. Johnson drilled a three-pointer
with three seconds remaining and Twomey converted one of two foul
shots, but the Dolphins could not get a clean look at a game-tying
basket.
Ekperigin posted a team-high 24 points, while also grabbing 11
rebounds, including six on the offensive end, and dishing out four
assists. Johnson tallied a career-high 23 points, while classmate
Cormier registered 12 points and seven assists. Twomey added eight
rebounds to his 27 points for the Greyhounds, while Fraine finished
with 14 points and Bajema contributed 13. Shea pulled down a
game-high 12 rebounds for Assumption, including seven
offensive.
Le Moyne (2-3, NE-10 2-2) returns to action on Wednesday in
Rindge, N.H. against Franklin Pierce at 7:30 p.m.
-agate-
Assumption 79,
Le Moyne 76
Assumption (3-3, NE-10
2-2)
33
46
-
79
Le Moyne (2-3, NE-10
2-2)
42
34
- 76
