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WILLIAMSTOWN, MA-With a strong second half the Williams men's
basketball team (5-0) stopped history from repeating itself Tuesday
night with a win over Framingham State (3-3). After being
down 26-16 at the half the Ephs opened with a 22-9 run to start the
second half and held on to win, 60-56.
The Rams entered Tuesday night's contest on a three game win
streak and with history on their side. Last year the Ephs
lost to the Rams in Framingham by a score of 61-56 while shooting
an abysmal 24% from the field, including an astounding 6 for 49
team performance from behind the arc. Fears of a recurrence
were anything but assuaged after the first half, as the Rams held
Williams to just 21% from the field and an amazing 0 for 10 from
three point range.
Said Eph coach Dave Paulsen, "I thought last year's performance
against Framingham was as bad as it could get...I told the guys
that we played three ugly games in a row last year - Wesleyan, RPI,
and Framingham - and we lost all three, and now we've played three
ugly games in a row and we've found a way to win, which I think is
a mark of maturity. We've got some guys who are better
players than what they're showing right now, and we need to get
them unleashed a little bit."
Eph senior Chris Rose was honored before the game for joining
the 1,000 point club, however that didn't immunize the Williams
star from the fiery Paulsen's wrath. After missing yet
another jumper during a 1 for 7 first half, Paulsen commanded Rose
to "stop settling for the jump-shot: either throw it in or drive."
The senior tri-captain would respond in the second half,
following up a Shalvoy three with a drive to the rim for two.
Rose's adjustment mirrored a collective Eph commitment to get to
the rim in the second half. The adjustment gave the Ephs a
marked offensive boost, as Williams was able to take advantage of a
distinct size advantage throughout the second half. Notably
aggressive was sophomore Joe Geoghegan, who led the team with 13
points on four field goals, all of which were a result of offensive
rebounds. Geoghegan also grabbed 15 rebounds on the night,
the most of any Eph player in a game this year.
Were it not for Bill Carrey of the visiting Rams, the Ephs
might've pulled away in the second half during which Williams led
by as many as 10. But Carrey and the Rams hung in there,
continuing to attack the basket in an effort to exploit a bit of a
speed advantage. Carrey and sophomore Josue Almodovar killed
the Ephs last year, combining for 36 points. However Eph
sophomore Blake Schultz was able to keep Almodovar in check this
time around, holding the sophomore to just 9 points on 4 of 13
shooting.
Said Coach Paulsen, "Those guys are really talented, and even
though the kid Carrey had 19 points I think Kevin did a good job
making him work for it."
Compared to last year the Ephs seem to possess a much greater
ability for "manufacturing" wins despite cold shooting
nights. For the second game in a row the Ephs "got to the
line and we got offensive rebounds, which is what you have to do
when you're struggling offensively" (Paulsen).
In moving to 5-0 the Ephs downed another quality opponent,
however Coach Paulsen would like to see the team be more
consistent:
"We have not yet developed the ability to play 40 minutes, and
that's where we need to get to."
Williams will look to do so this Saturday in another home
contest vs. Southern Vermont. Game time is set for 3:00 pm.
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Chris Rose '08 receives
congratulations from
Dave Paulsen '87
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EPH NOTE:
Senior Chris Rose was honored before the game for becoming the
24th men's basketball player in Williams history to score over
1,000 points in a career. Rose actually passed the mark
against Wesleyan earlier in the season, however as the Ephs started
the season with a four game road trip, Tuesday's game was the first
time to acknowledge the accomplishment at home. With 13
points on the night, Rose now sits at 1,025 points for his career.
