Waterville, ME.— Tonight's game between Williams (12-3, 3-0 NESCAC) and Colby (7-8, 0-3 NESCAC) was most competitive in the first half. The teams stayed neck and neck for the first eleven minutes, but Williams started to pull away with nine to play in the half.
Fantastic play across the roster would lead to the Ephs' victory tonight, but seniors
Nate Karren and
Cole Prowitt-Smith played an especially important role in securing the win. Karren led scorers with 19 points, and had 11 rebounds and 5 blocks to boot. Prowitt-Smith had 16 points and 8 rebounds as well, with 14 of those points coming in the 2nd half.
Eph head coach
Kevin App remarked on the seniors' strong leadership: "The teams that win league games, especially on the road, are the ones that upperclassmen, specifically seniors, lead the charge. I thought those two today played with a level of composure and confidence that the other guys were able to follow. I've been really proud of them the last few weeks, of how they've led— with their confidence, toughness, and experience."
The Mules are a three point shooting team. Coach App noted that "coming into today, they lead the league in three point attempts and makes." They got their scoring started right away with a corner three.
Williams' early offense came in the post as Karren and
Brandon Roughley used their footwork to get good shots in the paint. The Mules kept up their offensive from behind the line, splashing two more threes in the first few minutes. Keeping the Ephs honest, Colby's big man Jack Lawson also dunked it after a steal.
Karren matched the Mules with threes of his own, and the rest of the squad pressured the paint, getting layups and floaters near the hoop. After the nine minute mark, the Ephs went on a 13-4 run, finishing the half with a 26-19 lead.
The first half was good as the Ephs edged out the Mules, shooting 11-34 to Colby's 8-31— but the second half was when Williams started to really shine. "I think it took us a little while to get our legs, get our rhythm after the long trip, but we didn't let some of the early offensive frustration get to us," said Coach App after the game.
In the second half, Williams shot an efficient 48.5% from the floor and knocked down five of their twelve threes. The Ephs' big men started off scoring again.
Brandon Roughley shot an incredibly efficient 78% from the floor, and four layups in the first few minutes of the second brought him up to 14 points. Karren had five to start, scoring in the paint and at the line.
After an
Alex Stoddard catch and shoot three,
Cole Prowitt-Smith went on a tear, scoring twelve points in just over two minutes. He seemed to make everything, converting on acrobatic finger rolls and an NBA range three. Prowitt-Smith's run gave the Ephs a 21 point lead and largely sealed the deal.
Despite the Mules' redoubled effort, Williams went on to widen the lead. Karren had his third three, and the team's sophomores added eleven points. The game finished with the Ephs on top 68-45.
"It's really hard to win on the road, and especially in the league. To beat a good Colby team that's really dynamic on offense— I'm a proud coach after another week," said Coach App on the win.
App gave props to Colby's strengths too. "They really have an identity, and we've seen how good they can be. They beat us in the semis last year because coach Strahorn's got a great program. They probably missed some open ones, but I thought we played consistently with the effort and intensity that led to some of those misses."
The Ephs play again tomorrow at 3 PM vs. Bowdoin, in Brunswick, ME.
