Posted: Jan 30, 2010
BEVERLY, Mass. – Gordon’s Aaron Trigg (Overland Park, Kan.) scored a game-high 26 points and the Fighting Scots overcame a six point halftime deficit to down Endicott, 64-55, inside a packed MacDonald Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon in Beverly, Mass. Gordon improves to a perfect 7-0 in The Commonwealth Coast Conference (15-3 overall), while the Gulls fall to 8-10 and 3-4 in league play.
Endicott came out firing on all cylinders to open the contest, quickly jumping out to a 10-2 lead. The Gulls would push their lead to 10 at the 8:25 mark of the first half when \#Bobby Montrond\# (Brockton, Mass.) capitalized on a complete individual effort. The senior guard hit the floor to force a Gordon turnover, and then connected on a 3-pointer off a favorable home-town roll off the rim. Moments later, junior Chris Galbraith (Lowell, Mass.) made it 30-17 in favor of the hosts as he picked up the hoop and the foul on a nifty baseline move.
Gordon made its run before the close of the opening frame, ending the half on an 8-1 burst that included a big 3-ball from senior Jeff Derr (Barrington, Ill.). Endicott led 31-25 at the intermission.
Free-throws, as they were all afternoon, became the name of the game in the second stanza. Endicott opened the half with a 3-pointer from \#Aaron Karkow\# (Uncasville, Conn.), followed by an inside layup from \#Erik Callo\# (Southington, Conn.). Gordon responded by rattling off five straight free-throws, followed by a 3-ball from Aaron Trigg to cut the lead to just two.
The two sides would trade points until there was just 5:01 left in regulation, and that’s when the Fighting Scots grabbed the lead for good. Brady Bajema (Whitinsville, Mass.) dialed in from behind the arc and then connected with Aaron Trigg on a fast-break, half court bounce pass through a seam of Endicott defenders, sparking a huge Gordon rally. On the following possession Trigg iced the game for good when the senior connected on a dagger of a three right in front of the Scots’ bench to seal the win.
Gordon made it to the free-throw line a remarkable 32 times, connecting on 27 of its attempts (84.4%). The Fighting Scots, who shot just 34% from the floor on the day (16-of-47), held a decisive 47-33 advantage on the glass. Endicott made just 32.8% of its field goal opportunities (21-of-64) and connected on just five of its 26 3-point attempts.
Trigg finished with 26 points while freshman David Dempsey (Wallingford, Conn.) was the only other Scot to finish in double-figures with 10 points and seven rebounds. Brady Bajema had nine points and three assists while Jeff Derr had nine points and a game-high 12 rebounds.
Endicott’s offensive attack was spread throughout the squad with only one player finishing with double-digits. \#Justin Martin\# (Cromwell, Conn.) scored 10 points and added three blocks, while \#Bobby Montrond\# had eight points and two steals. \#Lance Greene\# (Dorchester, Mass.) finished with seven points and seven rebounds and \#Erik Callo\# had six points and three blocks in the losing effort.
Endicott looks to rebound on Wednesday evening when the Gulls host Colby-Sawyer in a pivotal TCCC matchup beginning at 8:00 p.m. Gordon retakes the court on the same evening when the Fighting Scots take on Regis at 8:00 p.m. in Wenham, Mass.
