Men's Basketball Holds Off WPI, 85-80
MEN'S BASKETBALL HOLDS OFF WPI, 85-80
CHICOPEE, MA, Nov. 28, 2007 - Elms College sophomore point guard Juan Galdon (Holyoke, MA) matched his collegiate career-high with 21 points and junior guard Aswad Thomas (Hartford, CT) registered a triple-double to help the Blazers post a thrilling 85-80 win over WPI in Wednesday night's non-conference men's basketball game at the Maguire Center.
With the win, Elms College improved to 4-0 for the first time in the program's 10-year history. WPI fell to 3-2 with the loss.
Galdon, who has recorded team-high point totals in each of the Blazers' first four games, was sensational in the opening 20 minutes, as he knocked down 6 of 7 shots for 13 first half points to help the Blazers build a 45-32 lead at intermission.
Thomas, meanwhile, registered 12 points, and game-highs with 12
rebounds, 13 assists and eight steals.
WPI led 18-17 with 9:52 remaining in the opening half before Elms College erupted for a 17-1 run over the next 2:39 to pull out to a seemingly commanding 34-19 lead.
The Engineers, however, came alive early in the second half with a 25-11 run over the first 9:35 to cut the Blazers' lead to 57-56
Junior forward Joe Esile (Milford, CT) then answered with a 3-pointer to ignite a 10-0 run for the Blazers over the next 2:35. Thomas and senior forward Nate Hawes (New Hope, MN) followed with layups and freshman center Juan Alverio (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico) capped off the run with a 3-pointer of his own.
From there, WPI threatened just once more, as it pulled to within 80-75 in the final 1:12 following a layup by freshman guard Ben Etten (Hollis, NH) and a 3-pointer by junior forward Will Lyons (Wilbraham, MA).
A layup by Hawes and free throws by senior guard Randy Hite (Hartford, CT) and Alverio in the game's final minute sealed the victory for Elms College.
Senior forward Antoine Coleman (Everett, MA) led all scorers with 23 points, Etten finished with a collegiate career-high 19 points and junior guard Jerome Kirkland (Boston, MA) had 15 points to all finish in double figures for WPI.
Esile dropped in 11 points, including three 3-pointers, Hawes finished with 10 points and Hite added a season-high nine points in 22 minutes.
Elms College won despite being outscored 50-30 in the paint and 48-31 off the bench.
The Blazers return to action at Colby in the first round of the Colby Invitational on Saturday, December 1. Game time is 2:00 p.m.