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WILLIAMSTOWN, MA--Just like in their home opener, the Ephs (6-0)
came out firing on Saturday. Unlike the opener though, they
were firing and making. SVC (1-4) - already smarting
from a three game losing streak - was essentially run out of the
gym in the first half, as the Ephs were hitting on all
cylinders. Williams would shoot 53% from behind the arc in
the first half, and go on to finish the game at a blistering 57%
clip from downtown for an 87-38 victory.
"I thought we got our running game going...and were able to
break the game open" said Eph coach Dave Paulsen.
Senior Chris Shalvoy led the attack for the Ephs with 8 assists,
none of which were more impressive than a one-handed bounce pass
through traffic to a streaking Blake Schultz for the lay-in.
The play excited the crowd and gave Williams a 22-12 lead with
13:51 to go in the first half, from which the Ephs would never look
back.
Regarding Shalvoy's unselfish play, Paulsen said, "He's been
part of plenty of games where he's scored twenty-something points
and we needed him to do that. Tonight we didn't need him to
do that and he didn't force it, which was good."
Senior Chris Rose led all scorers with 18 points on 6 of 8 from
behind the arc, and Kevin Snyder '09 and Joe Geoghegan '10 each
added 15 points. Geoghegan also pulled down 10 rebounds for
his second straight double-double.
In the first 8 minutes alone, Williams canned eight three
pointers, including three each by Snyder and Rose. Junior
Tommas Golia added a three during some good minutes in the first
half as well.
Despite some impressive individual talent in the forms of
sophomore Emory Wheeler and senior Nick Harrington (22.8 points and
12.3 rebounds a game going into Saturday's contest), the
Mountaineers were unable to display any ability to stop the Ephs
defensively, as the majority of Williams' threes were barely
contested:
"We talked about getting 'easy 3's - off kick outs and
drive-and-kicks as opposed to making those tough three's. And
because of the penetration fortunately we got a lot of open looks,"
said Paulsen.
Up 21 points at the start of the second half, the Eph starters
denied the urge to get complacent, quickly lengthening their lead
on a three by Rose and a dunk by Geoghegan.
"I told our guys we're playing against the game right now, we're
not playing against the other team - we're playing to get better,"
said Paulsen.
With the game out of hand about half way through the second
half, Williams was able to explore their bench a little in getting
some good minutes from senior Brendan Hanifin and freshmen Troy
Whittington and Ethan Timmins-Schiffman.
Paulsen also praised Snyder '09 in particular, saying, "He's
been terrific for us all year offensively."
Snyder had off-season surgery on a shooting wrist that had been
bothering him since high school. With a clean bill of health
this year, Paulsen believes it's "picked up his confidence and he's
been playing very, very well."
Saturday's win equaled Williams best start since 2005, when the
Ephs started 6-0 before losing to then 10th- ranked WPI on a last
second lay-up. With two more wins in a row the Ephs will
equal the 8-0 start of the 2004 team that made it all the way to
the NCAA final.
Williams is home again next Saturday versus Springfield.
Game time is set for 3:00 pm.
