Jan. 8, 2004
WILLIMANTIC, Conn. -- Senior guard Jeremy Currier hit a key three-point field goal to spark an 8-2 run by Endicott College over the final 1:30 as the Gulls recorded a 63-55 win Thursday night at Francis E. Geissler Gymnasium.
Currier followed up last year's 23-point effort against Eastern with 18 points -- 15 in the second half -- to carry Endicott (6-2) to its second win over Eastern (4-6) in as many years. The Gulls, an ECAC tournament semifinalist last year, have won four straight this year and handed Eastern its fourth straight loss.
The Warriors scored six straight points late in the game to cut an eight-point defict to two with two minutes left before the Gulls scored eight of the games final ten points. Currier, last year's national leader in three-point field goal percentage, hit his third three-pointer of the game with 1:30 left to give Endicott a five-point, 58-53 lead. After Eastern senior forward Michael Kipphut got two points back, the Gulls hit five of their final six free throws to maintain their edge.
Endicott, which shoots 76.5 per cent from the foul line this year, canned 15 of 21 attempts, including 12 of 15 in the second half. Following a sluggish first half, Endicott shot 62.5 per cent from the floor over the final 20 minutes, Eastern 57.9.
First-year Eastern senior forward Tyrell Jarrett scored the final six points of the first half to snap a tie and give the Warriors a six-point halftime lead but the Gulls outscored the Warriors 15-4 to move out to a five-point, 42-37 lead midway through the second half. Currier hit a three-pointer and driving layup sandwiched around a free throw by freshman forward Nemanja Marinkovic to open that 15-4 run.
Marinkovic followed Currier with 16 points and shared team-high rebounding honors with seven, helping the Gulls to a 36-28 advantage on the boards.
Endicott faces Roger Williams University at home Saturday, January 10th at 3pm.
Endicott College 63, Eastern Conn. 55
ENDICOTT (6-2): Nemanja Marinkovic 6-12 4-6 16; Samuel Evans 0-1 0-0 0; Chris Lacasse 1-2 4-6 6; Jeremy Currier 6-14 3-4 18; Matt George 0-1 0-0 0; Tom Foster 3-10 0-0 7; James Leveque 2-5 3-3 7; Josh Oxton 3-9 1-2 7; Carlos Nunez 1-1 0-0 2; Alex Stephen 0-1 0-0 0; TOTAL: 22-56 15-21 63.
EASTERN CONN. (4-6): Gordon Shepard 2-9 0-0 4; Tyrone Murphy 0-0 0-0 0; Antwoine Key 0-1 0-0 0; Mike Bartunek 0-2 0-0 0; Matt Albon 2-4 0-1 4; Martin Kokoszka 5-7 3-3 17; Christopher Morgan 0-3 0-0 0; Tyrell Jarrett 3-4 2-2 8; Michael Kipphut 7-12 4-8 18; Jeroy Smith 2-4 0-0 4; Tom Wrzosek 0-1 0-0 0; TOTAL: 21-47 9-14 55.
Score at halftime: Ea, 23-17.
Three-point goals: En 4-14 (Currier 3-4, Foster 1-4, Marinkovic 0-1, Leveque 0-1, Oxton 0-3, Stephen 0-1); Ea 4-15 (Kokoszka 4-5, Shepard 0-4, Bartunek 0-2, Albon 0-1, Morgan 0-2, Wrzosek 0-1); Rebounds: En 36 (Marinkovic, Lacasse, Leveque 7); Ea 28 (Smith 8, Kipphut 6); Assists: Ea 11 (Marinkovic, Oxton 3); Ea 13 (Shepard 4, Kipphut, Smith 2).
Story written by Eastern Connecticut Sport Information department.
