Box
Score
Ashland,VA
- Despite a 17-day lay off, Williams men's basketball
continued its hot start, dropping Elmira 85-64 in the opening
game of the Randolph Macon Christmas Classic to go to 9-0 on the
season. Co-captain Joe Geoghegan led the way for the Ephs with 14
points on 7-8 shoo
ting and 9 rebounds, while Alex Rubin scored a season-high 17 and
James Wang had a well-rounded 13 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists.
Prior to the game, the Ephs spent two days in
Washington, DC, sightseeing and getting accustomed to playing
basketball again following the break for exams and the holidays. In
addition to practice, the team visited many DC landmarks, including
the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Memorial and the World War Two
Memorial. The team then traveled to Randolph Macon to take on the
Soaring Eagles.
Elmira, now 1-8, battled with Williams as the
game began, as the game remained tied, 9-9, through five minutes of
play. Williams was able to open up an 18-12 lead on a Rubin three
with 12:26 to go in the half; from there, they controlled the play,
leading by as many as 14 with eight minutes left to play before
ending the half up 10, 46-36.
The Ephs statistically had an excellent half,
shooting 57% from the field and holding the Soaring Eagles to a 39%
shooting mark. Rubin keyed the Eph attack in the first, scoring 14
points on 5-6 shooting. Co-captain Blake Schultz, the
NESCAC's leading scorer coming into the game, had 9
first-half points on 3-5 shooting, and freshman point-guard Nate
Robertson picked up five assists in the half.
Elmira stepped up its defense in the second
half, holding Williams to only 41% shooting. However, the Ephs
improved their play on the defensive end as well, forcing the
Soaring Eagles to shoot only 30% from the field. Their defensive
effort, combined with 7-2 advantage on three point baskets in the
half, allowed the Ephs to extend their lead and ultimately win,
85-64.
Schultz ended the game with 12 points and 4
rebounds, and Harlan Dodson added 9 on 3 threes. Troy Whittington
helped the Ephs on the defensive end with 4 blocks and 7 rebounds
to go with 4 points, and Will hardy added 9 points in 19 minutes.
Robertson finished with 2 points, 2 rebounds, and 6 assists.
The Ephs shot 49% from the field on the day,
their lowest percentage since they took on MCLA in North Adams
exactly one month ago on Nov. 29, but shot 56% from behind the arc
in the game while holding the Eagles to only 26% shooting from
distance. The Ephs picked up assists on 20 of their 30 baskets, and
won the rebounding battle against the Eagles 44-33.
Head Coach Mike Maker felt the team came
together well and was pleased with the performance, particularly
considering the length of time since its last game.
“You're always concerned as a coach the first game back
after a long break,” said Maker. “I thought it took us
a little while to get our rhythm offensively and our effort and our
communication defensively, but once we did, I thought we played
efficient basketball at both ends of the floor.”
The Ephs will now take on the Randolph Macon
Yellow Jackets, who defeated MCLA tonight, 82-52, in the
championship of the tournament tomorrow night. The Yellows Jackets,
ranked No. 5 in the country, will provide a great test for the
Ephs, who are currently ranked No. 12.
Maker says that Williams will be focused on
their own play going into the game tomorrow. “We're
going to make it, as always, about us,” he said. “
Randolph Macon is well coached and we have great respect for them
as a basketball program, but as much as we respect them it is about
our play, our execution offensively and, on the other end
defensively they are a handful to guard because they have great
balance … It's going to be a challenge and we're
looking forward to that challenge.”
The game can be seen live on RMC's
pay-to-watch system at 7 pm here.
