Posted: Nov 21, 2009
AMHERST, Mass. – A \#Chris Galbraith\# (Lowell, Mass.) layup with three seconds remaining in double-overtime gave Endicott College a two-point lead it would not relinquish as the Gulls defeated UMaine-Farmington, 98-95, on Saturday afternoon in the Consolation Game of Amherst College’s Ninth Annual Ken Wright ’52 Memorial Invitational Tournament. The Gulls wrapped up the tournament at 2-2 overall while the Beavers fall to 0-2.
The Endicott Gulls jumped out to an early 9-2 lead, forcing Maine Farmington to call an early timeout at the 17:24 mark of the first half. Coming out the stoppage, the Beavers went on a 9-4 run to close the gap, before taking a 14-13 lead on a three by Andrew Dean with 13:15 to play in the half.
The pace of play increased through the middle of the first half, but the game remained tight and with a put-back by Maine-Farmington’s senior Josh Tanguay at the 5:38 mark the Beavers trailed just 24-22. \#Erik Callo\# (Southington, Conn.) responded for Endicott with back-to-back scores inside to open back up a 28-22 lead.
The Gulls ended the first half on a 10-6 run to take a 38-28 lead into the locker room. At the half, Callo led all players with 13 points and six rebounds, while each Dean and Tanguay had eight points apiece for Maine-Farmington.
Early in the second half, Maine-Farmington’s Kevin Leary was fouled shooting a three, and knocked down all three free throws to cut the lead to 40-33. After the Endicott lead grew to a dozen, back-to-back scores and then a triple from Roy Burdin, cut the lead down to 49-41 with 13:06 to play in the second half.
The Beavers cut the lead down to just three points at 58-55 with 7:38 to play as junior Eric Taylor scored on consecutive possessions inside the paint. After a 1-for-2 trip to line by Callo, Taylor scored again to close the gap to 59-57. The Gulls responded with back-to-back three pointers by \#Aaron Karkow\# (Uncasville, Conn.) and \#Danquah Rawlins\# (Mattapan, Mass.) to open back up a 68-62 lead with less than five minutes to play.
A put-back by Tanguay with 2:34 to play closed the game to 68-66 in Endicott’s favor, before \#Matt Bibeau\# (Wilmington, Mass.) answered inside for the Gulls. Despite missing on the next trip, the Beavers created a quick turnover in the backcourt leading to another Tanguay score. After an Endicott score, Maine-Farmington called a timeout with 1:17 remaining, trailing 72-68.
Coming out of the stoppage, Eric Lelansky scored on a tough drive to the right to close the gap to 72-70. The Beavers got a defensive stop, which led to Tanguay being fouled in the act of shooting with :17 seconds to play. Tanguay made the first, and after an Endicott timeout, drilled the second free throw to tie the game 72-72. Endicott looked to Rawlins for the final shot, but his desperation jumper was off target and the game was sent to overtime.
In the first extra session, a three from Karkow and a put-back from Callo opened up a 78-74 lead for Endicott. After a Beavers turnover, \#Jamie D’Amaral\# (Scottsdale, Ariz.) made another triple from the corner to put the Gulls up 81-74 with 2:08 to play. The 8-0 scoring run was not enough to put the Gulls up for good, as Maine-Farmington erased a five point deficit in the final :29 seconds of the first overtime. After Taylor was fouled while scoring, he missed the and-one attempt which set up a game tying three by LeLansky with :10 seconds to play. The score was the final of the frame, as the game went into a second overtime tied 84-84.
Midway through the second overtime, Taylor made a pair of free throws to put the Beavers ahead 91-88. After the two teams traded scores, Endicott’s \#Chris Galbraith\# made a pair of free throws to close the gap to 93-92 in Maine-Farmington’s favor. After the Beavers scored to go up three, \#Bobby Montrond\# (Brockton, Mass.) nailed a three with just :49 seconds to play to tie the game 95-95.
After Tanguay missed a pair of free throws, the Gulls were able to hold for the last shot with the game still tied. D’Amaral drove into the middle of the lane, and dished to Galbraith on the right block for a lay-up with 3.1 seconds to play, putting Endicott back on top 97-95. The score proved to be the game-winner, as Rawlins intercepted the long inbounds pass, and was fouled in the air.
Rawlins made 1-of-2 at the line to finish the game at 98-95 in Endicott’s favor.
When the final whistle was blown, Taylor led all players with 31 points and 12 rebounds, while Tanguay had a double-double with 18 points and 19 rebounds. For the Gulls, Callo had 24 points, 15 rebounds and six blocks in the win, while Karkow added 20 points with five three pointers. For their play, both Callo and Tanguay were selected to the All-Tournament Team.
The Gulls will not play again until December 3rd when Endicott crosses town lines to face-off with rival Gordon College at 7:00 p.m.
Release courtesy of Amherst College Sports Information
