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#6 Endicott advances to TCCC semifinals with overtime win over Roger Williams

#6 Endicott advances to TCCC semifinals with overtime win over Roger Williams
Bristol, R.I. – For the second time this season, the Endicott men’s basketball team defeated Roger Williams but this time it counted as their 71-68 overtime victory lifted the Gulls into the TCCC Semifinals where they will face Wentworth on Thursday, February 24th

Gulls sophomore Lance Greene (Dorchester, Mass.) scored a team-high 19 points and hit crucial free throws in overtime to lead the \#6 seed Endicott to the upset victory over the \#3 seed Roger Williams. Greene, who earlier in the week was named a All-TCCC First Team player, knocked down 6-of-18 from the floor including 2-of-3 from three-point range and 5-of-6 from the charity stripe. He also dished out a team-best five assists. 

A trio of Endicott freshmen came up big for the Gulls as Tyler Burkhart (Cromwell, Conn.), Lachlan Magee (Melbourne, Australia) and Bennett Knowlton (Shrewsbury, Mass.) combined to score 27 points in the game. Burkhart and Magee scored 11 and eight points, respectively, while Knowlton came off the bench to add eight more tallies on 3-of-5 shooting with a perfect 2-of-2 from behind the three-point line. Magee and Burkhart made a significant impact on the glass grabbing 19 boards between the two of them. 

There was also a battle in the low post between Hawks center Pat Flanagan (Somerville, Mass.) and Gulls center Erik Callo (Southington, Conn.). Flanagan was the game’s high scorer with 26 points by hitting 11-of-20 shots and 4-of-5 free throw attempts. Flanagan also had three blocks in the game. Callo scored 12 points, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked five shots before fouling out in overtime. 

In the opening half, Endicott came ready to play after jumping out to an 11-0 in the first 3:16. Endicott’s lead dipped down into single digits for much of the half, but the Gulls were able to push it back up to 11 on two different occasions. Greene scored 10 of his points in the half with Callo adding eight. Junior Aaron Karkow (Uncasville, Conn.) netted five of his nine points as the Blue and Green went into halftime with a 36-28 lead. 

In the second half, Roger Williams used a 15-5 to mount a comeback that gave the Hawks the lead at 52-51 following a Tom Rafael (Ladera Ranch, Calif.) jumper with 9:28 to go in regulation. The lead was short-lived, however, as Endicott stormed back to take a seven-point lead after a three-pointer by Tyler Burkhart made it 64-57 with 3:39 to go.

The Gulls would not score for the remainder of regulation. Roger Williams got jumpers from Matt Grossbard (Pearl River, N.Y.) and Pat Flanagan to make it a three-point game going into the final minute of the game. With eight seconds on the clock, Hawks guard Corey Fava (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) was fouled on a three-point attempt and after knocking down all three the two teams headed to overtime. 

In overtime, Endicott quickly gained the advantage after a jumper in the paint by Erik Callo on the opening possession. Lachlan Magee followed with a jumper before Roger Williams’ Taylor Petruccelli (Stratford, Conn.) answered with a jumper of his own to make it 68-66. 

Lance Greene made one of two free throws to go up three points before Hawks forward Tom Rafael made both his free throw attempts following a foul to pull within one point at 69-68. Greene was fouled on the next Endicott possession and after making both free throws to put his team up 71-68, the home Hawks could not force a double-overtime with a final possession three-point attempt. 

Roger Williams Tom Rafael finished the game with 18 points while guard Corey Fava had nine assists to lead all players. 

The Gulls now move on to the TCCC Semifinals for the first time since the 2006-07 season. Endicott faces Wentworth at 7:00 pm on Thursday, February 24th in Boston.