WILLIAMSTOWN, MA. – Although offense tends to garner the majority of the media attention in basketball, the 2022-23 Williams College Ephs (6-0) continue to rely on their stellar defense to win games. The Ephs, coming into tonight's matchup with the eighth best scoring defense in the country, held the #19 RPI Engineers (5-1) to 25% shooting on Tuesday evening. In keeping with the trend of this season, the Ephs used halftime adjustments to improve their shooting from 24% in the first period to 60% in the second. Additionally, after shooting 15 three-pointers in the first 20 minutes, they attempted just four in the second. Williams went 16-20 from the free throw line in the win.
"This group has shown that they have a competitiveness where things don't have to be perfect," Eph head coach
Kevin App said post game. "If they stick with it, they're going to find a way to be successful. Proving ourselves at home against a quality opponent is important."
"RPI has a great program, and they were in the Sweet Sixteen with us last year," App praised. Coach Gilbride does a great job — they're going to win a lot of games in the Liberty League."
Neither team could find the basket in the early minutes, with the first field goal coming from a
Declan Porter three-pointer 4:30 into the contest. Despite a number of free throws for the Ephs, it took another four minutes before
Alex Lee made the second Williams shot of the night for a 9-3 lead.
Brandon Roughley appeared to be back to his explosive self on offense, as he beat his man in the post and then dished to
Brandon Arnold on the following possession after drawing a double team on a drive. When
Nate Karren checked in with 11:07 to play in the first half, the lineup featured four starters plus Roughley.
"We were more guard heavy without
Brandon Roughley and
Hudson Hansen, but now it allows us to take advantage of different mismatches inside," App commented. "Nate did that Sunday, and Brandon had some key baskets tonight. The next test will be fitting guys into new roles as people return from injuries."
Porter followed his own rebound off a three-pointer to extend the lead to double-digits with 9:33 to play in the half and force an RPI timeout. At the time, the Engineers were 2-13 from the field, while the Ephs were 4-16.
A 9-0 run from the Engineers trimmed the Ephs advantage to just one point with 2:32 to go in the half, as the Ephs continued to have stretches of several minutes without a basket. Porter, however, continued to trust his shot and saw one fall from the corner.
Spencer Spivy found a lane for a 23-17 edge at halftime.
Williams went 7-29 (24%) from the field, which proved enough while holding the Engineers to 6-29 (21%). The Ephs made six free throws in the half to three from RPI.
Cole Prowitt-Smith grabbed three consecutive defensive rebounds to open the second half, before skying over his man on the baseline on two baskets in a row. With the Ephs up 31-17, RPI — still without a point in the half — called a timeout to stop the momentum with 16:19 to go.
Next, Roughley bodied his way into the paint to draw an and-one. His free throw opened up the contest as the lead moved to 15. The Williams bench and Chandler crowd began to come alive as Roughley hit another pair of free throws.
The Engineers grabbed three offensive rebounds on a single possession but were unable to come away with points, and the Ephs found Porter in transition as he sunk his third long ball of the night with 9:59 remaining for a 44-29 lead.
The Ephs began to find a groove on offense in the latter stages of the game. Layups through traffic from
Evan Glatzer and Spivy grew the lead above 20 with 6:47 left, as a comeback became increasingly improbable due to the level of the Williams defense.
A one-handed jumper from Karren as the shot clock expired made the score 54-33 with 4:36 to go and appeared to be the dagger on the evening. Impressive isolation play from
Alex Lee notched the final make for the Ephs, who post a 6-0 record for the second year in a row.
Porter had a team-high 13 points for the Ephs, while Roughley had 11. Prowitt-Smith grabbed 10 rebounds in addition to eight points.
The Ephs face off Saturday, December 4th against Wesleyan (2-4) in the first meeting between the teams since the NESCAC championship last season.
"We always bring the best out of each other," App said of Wesleyan. "It's about going out there and playing with confidence — asserting your identity. They're going to test us in areas we need to improve at, and we have to be ready Saturday."
