Ihearahu Hits 1,000-Point Plateau In Loss At Newbury

BROOKLINE, Mass. - Senior forward Conny Ihearahu (Largo, Md.) became the ninth player in program history to reach the 1,000-career point mark as the Blazers fell to host Newbury, 96-90, in a New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) tilt at Hellenic College Tuesday night.

Nighthawks junior Jeduan Langston (Roxbury, Mass.) led the team with 23 points, while grabbing eight rebounds, and dishing seven assists. Junior Daivon Edwards (Roxbury, Mass.) and senior Joshua Oliver (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) scored 18 each. Edwards shot 5-of-12 from deep; Oliver 6-of-8. Senior Ceejae Carter (Dorchester, Mass.) added 15 points and seven rebounds.

The NECC's leading scorer, senior Symon Smith (Oklahoma City, Okla.) fired home a career-high 36 points on 14-of-22 shooting in 40 minutes. Senior Trifon Bish (St. Catherine, Jamaica) chipped in 19 points and seven rebounds in only 21 minutes before fouling out. The Blazers shot 13-of-26 from deep in the game, Smith shot 7-of-11 from beyond the arc.

With the Blazers leading by two at the half, the Nighthawks opened the half on a 14-2 run, spanning 4:01, to take a 53-43 lead. Edwards and Langston combined for 12 in the run.

Another Nighthawks run would open the lead to 20 points for Newbury. Including the 14-2 run mentioned above, the Nighthawks outscored Elms 38-16 over a 12 minute span to lead 77-57 with 7:54 to play.

Smith and Bish would turn it on for the Blazers from that point. A 25-10 run would get the Blazers within five, 87-82, with 0:54 remaining.

Even with the Nighthawks making late free throws, back-to-back Smith 3's would make it a four point game, 94-90. 

Langston would make two final free throws for the Nighthawks and time expired before the Blazers could pull any closer.

Smith and Bish scored the final 29 points for the Blazers, shooting an unbelievable 11-of-13 from the field in the final 6:50.

The Nighthawks ability to convert from the foul line held off the Blazers as Newbury shot a season-best 22-of-25 from the line, including 13-of-14 from Langston and 9-of-10 as a team with less than a minute remaining.

The 96 points are the most by the Nighthawks since Nov. 17, 2012; a 101-76 win vs. Colby-Sawyer College.

The win is the second straight for the Nighthawks, who improve to 3-19 (3-11 NECC). The loss bumps the Blazers to 4-19 (4-10 NECC). 

Both sides have two games remaining in the regular season. The Nighthawks travel to Mitchell on Thursday night to take on the Mariners at 6:00 p.m., while the Blazers welcome Southern Vermont for a home match on Thursday at 7:00 p.m.

Source: (Newbury College Athletics)