Men's Basketball Wins 2007 Blazer Invitational

MEN'S BASKETBALL WINS BLAZER INVITATIONAL
Blazers defeat Bowdoin 65-60 to earn first win over a NESCAC team since 2003
Maine-Machias defeats Newbury 68-66 in consolation game

Click here for Elms College/Bowdoin box score

Click here for Maine-Machias/Newbury box score 

CHICOPEE, MA, Nov. 18, 2007 - Elms College sophomore point guard Juan Galdon (Holyoke, MA) netted a team-high 15 and was named Tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP) to help the Blazers earn a hard-fought 65-60 men's basketball win over Bowdoin College in the championship game of the Blazer Invitational on Sunday afternoon at the Maguire Center.

The win was Elms College's first over a New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) team since a 75-61 victory over Connecticut College on February 4, 2003.

Galdon, who scored a team-high 16 points in the Blazers' (2-0) first round over Maine-Machias on Saturday night, added three assists and three steals in 25 minutes.

Sunday's championship game featured four ties and five lead changes. The Blazers, who led 37-35 at intermission, used a 12-7 run over the first 3:21 of the second half to take their largest lead of the game at 49-42.

Freshman center Juan Alverio (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico) and junior guard Aswad Thomas (Hartford, CT) each knocked down 3-pointers, Galdon added a jumper and senior forward Nate Hawes (New Hope, MN) converted a layup to help key the Blazers' early second half run.

Bowdoin (1-1), however, roared back with a 7-0 run over the next 5:05 to knot the game at 49-49 behind a pair of jumpers by junior forward Kyle Jackson (Acton, MA), a free throw by senior forward Andrew Sargeantson (New Canaan, CT) and a layup by sophomore center Mark Phillips (Ashland, MA).

Galdon then answered for the Blazers with a 3-pointer and layup to help spark a 6-0 run that gave the hosts a 55-49 lead. From there, the Polar Bears were never able to cut the deficit any closer than four points in the final 10 minutes.

Sargeantson, who was named to the All-Tournament Team, tallied a game-high 16 points, Jackson finished with 15 and senior guard Andrew Hippert (Worcester, MA) finished with 12 points for Bowdoin.

Junior guard Joe Esile (Milford, CT) struck for 12 points - all on 3-pointers, - Alverio added 11 points, including three 3-pointers and Hawes added 10 points and a game-high seven rebounds to bolster the Blazers.

In the consolation game, Maine-Machias (2-4) senior guard Charles Calligan (Manchester, ME) scored 23 of his game-high 26 points in the second half to help the Clippers rally for a 68-66 win over Newbury.

Calligan, who netted a tournament-high 30 points in the Clippers' loss to Elms College in Saturday's first round, connected on 6 of 10 from 3-point range.

Senior guard Arch Mitchell (Framingham, MA) also finished with 26 points and played 38 minutes in a solid effort for Newbury (0-2), which led by 12 points 4:08 into the game and 30-25 at intermission.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

Charles Calligan (Maine-Machias)
Arch Mitchell (Newbury)
Andrew Sargeantson (Bowdoin)
Jordan Fliegel (Bowdoin)
Juan Galdon (Elms College)
Juan Alverio (Elms College)

TOURNAMENT MOST VALUABLE PLAYER (MVP)

Juan Galdon (Elms College)