Lewiston, ME.— Williams (16-5, 6-1 NESCAC) got off to a slower start this afternoon vs. Bates (3-17, 0-6 NESCAC), seemingly still shaking off last night's disappointment against Tufts. While Bates' entire offense ran smoothly through the first half, generating 41 points, a pair of Bobcats gave the Ephs special trouble.
Babacar Pouye had 18 points and 7 rebounds in the first half, starting things off with a jam on a pick and roll. His partner on that play, Simon McCormick, had 7 assists and 6 points of his own. Most of those assists were to Pouye.
The Ephs stayed alive by shooting a terrific 40% from behind the arc, sinking eight threes. This shooting kept the game close. It was 41-34 at the half, in favor of Bates.
In the first minutes of the game the teams stayed competitive. McCormick scored the Bobcats' first points with a three, and
Brandon Roughley responded on the other end, spinning into a shot off the glass.
Bates added on four more, including the dunk for Pouye, and Williams responded with threes from
Nate Karren and
Alex Lee. It went back and forth again. Bates scored five with a layup and a three, Williams had a three and a layup.
But then, Bates' zone defense started to trip the Ephs up, just as Tufts' had last night. In a six-minute stretch, the Bobcats kept the Ephs scoreless and their duo of Pouye and McCormick combined for eleven. By the time
Cole Prowitt-Smith scored the Ephs' next points, Williams was down nine, 25-16.
The Bobcats stayed hot even after the Ephs started to get themselves back in the game. While Williams scored eighteen in the last eight minutes of the half, Bates added on sixteen of their own. The Ephs were effective inside and out to close out the first: Karren and Roughley converted in the post while
Alex Lee,
Noah Dinkins, and
Alex Stoddard were automatic from deep.
At the half, despite Williams' renewed attack, the heroics of McCormick and Pouye provided Bates with a seven point lead. However, this lead would keep shrinking, eventually changing hands midway through the second half.
For the Ephs, the story of their comeback was ball movement. Williams moved the ball incredibly well and generated plenty of open looks. The Ephs improved on their already hot 40% from deep, climbing all the way to a scorching 80% from behind the arc in the second half. This tremendous shooting allowed the Ephs to notch their season-high of 16 three pointers made.
Eph head coach
Kevin App noted the team's improved ball movement against Bates' zone, saying, "We expected them to come out in some zone, and we felt last night against a tough zone, we didn't really move the ball as much as you need to to get some rhythm shots. So I thought our guys really settled into it and trusted their teammates, and that's when shots usually go in."
Another improvement was made on the defensive end, especially visible with Pouye and McCormick. The Ephs kept McCormick to 6 points and a still impressive 6 assists, and Pouye was kept to 8 points and 2 rebounds.
Coach App said this result was due to a renewed defensive focus in the second, rather than any special focus on Bates' two leaders. "We didn't really love the defensive effort and focus that we came out in the first half. It was really not them in particular, just kind of collectively getting back to some of our principles and strategies."
As noted before, the threes really started to fall for the Ephs in the second. Karren had one,
Alex Stoddard had one, Roughley had one, Stoddard had another,
Alex Lee dropped one in. When
Noah Dinkins made the Ephs' sixth three of the half, Williams finally took back a lead they hadn't possessed since the sixth minute of the first half.
From then on, it was mostly smooth sailing, and the Ephs did nothing but extend their lead. The final score was 84-69.
A number of Eph upperclassmen had fantastic games tonight.
Nate Karren had 21 points and 10 assists.
Cole Prowitt-Smith had 8 points and led all players with 13 rebounds.
Alex Stoddard had 15 points on 5-9 shooting from deep.
Brandon Roughley had 19, 5, rebounds and 5 threes on 67% shooting.
"Our upper classmen— they've been in this game before," said coach App on the upperclassmen's play. "It's another road trip, a hard road trip. Bates is a well-coached team that can get hot and make shots. I was proud of our upperclassmen leadership, in particular, for finding a way to weather those runs on their end and getting great shots. Not letting that make us press on the offensive end. Nate, Cole, Stoddard, and Roughley really helped settle us down on the offensive end."
Williams will play next against 20-0 Trinity. The matchup will be hosted at home in Chandler Gym, next Friday at 7pm.
