Feb. 23, 2008
BEVERLY, Mass. - The Endicott College men's basketball team fell to Curry College, as the Colonels shot an incredible 61.5% from behind the arch to secure a 72-56 victory Saturday evening at Miller Gymnasium in Milton, Mass.
The Colonels got things started immediately, as seniors Johnathan Bowers (Kalamazoo, Mich./Comstock), and Tim Jones (Brookline, Mass./Brookline) both sank three-pointers in the game's opening two minutes to build a 6-2 lead. Endicott rallied back, and after sophomore Graham Whitelaw (Kennebunk, Maine/Cheverus) hit a three-pointer of his own, Endicott took control by a score of 10-8. The lead would be short lived however. Curry went back on top after a lay-up by senior Marvin Lamarre (Hyde Park, Mass./Dorchester), and would never trail again. Endicott fought to keep the game close, as Graham Whitelaw struck again from long range to cut the lead in half at 25-22 with 3:26 remaining in the period. The Colonels responded by going on a 12-0 run, led by Tim Jones who scored eight points during that stretch, to take a 37-22 advantage. A three-pointer by freshman Mike Rhodes (Amston, Conn./East Catholic) in the closing seconds of the half gave Endicott hope as they went into the dressing room with the score 37-25.
The Gulls tried desperately to forge a comeback in the second half. After Graham Whitelaw had hit a three on Endicott's previous possession, Gull's top defender Todd Burton (Lynn, Mass./St. Mary's) made a steal and drove to the basket, making a lay-up while also getting fouled in the process. Burton finished off the three-point play by sinking his foul shot, cutting the Curry lead to 44-36. That would be as close as EC would get to the lead. The Colonels would eventually open up a twenty-point advantage, cruising to victory by a score of 72-56.
Curry was led by the hot shooting of Tim Jones who sank 11-13 shots, including 5-6 from behind the arch, for a game-high 29 points. Other standouts include Jonathan Bowers who had a double-double with 18 points and 15 rebounds, as well as Marvin Lamarre who chipped in 13 boards himself.
Endicott was paced by Graham Whitelaw who shot 3-6 from long range, and had a team-high 17 points. Todd Burton also contributed 13 points, two assists, and a steal in the loss.
With the victory, Curry has solidified the top seed going into The Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament, and have now won eight straight. The loss drops Endicott to 11-14 overall, and 7-6 in the conference. Both teams will return to action when the TCCC Quarterfinals begin on Tuesday.
