BOX
SCORE
WILLIMANTIC, Conn. - Bowdoin's Paul Sellew netted a game-high 19
points, including a game-tying three-pointer to end regulation, but
it wasn't enough as Eastern Connecticut held off the Polar Bear
men's basketball team on Saturday, 71-67 in overtime. The Warriors
claim their season-opening Tip-Off Tournament and improve to 2-0
while Bowdoin dips to 1-1.
Eastern carried a five-point lead into halftime (30-25) and
maintained the lead for most of the second period. A pair of
free-throws by Courtney Simmons secured the five-point edge for the
Warriors with just 4:42 remaining in regulation.
The Polar Bears outscored Eastern 7-2 over the closing moments,
including a clutch three-pointer from Will Hanley to trim the lead
to a single point with 1:44 to go. After two more freebies from
Simmons, Bowdoin had three chances to tie. Mike Hauser's miss from
long range with 10 seconds left came to Sellew, who spotted up and
buried a trifecta with just three seconds left to force the extra
session.
The game remained tied until late in the overtime period, when
Simmons hit a lay-up and was fouled. He buried the free throw to
give the hosts a three-point edge, 68-65, with under a minute to
play. Mark Phillips responded with a lay-in with 30 seconds to go,
but Bowdoin was forced to foul and Nick Nedwick connected on three
of four from the charity stripe in the closing moments to seal the
win.
Sellew had 10 boards to go with his 19 points while Phillips
finished with 13 points and eight caroms. After shooting less than
38% from the field in the first half, Bowdoin improve to 50% from
the field in the second stanza, but only connected on 6-18 from
three-point range for the game.
Nedwick led four Eastern Conn. players in double digits with 14
points. The Warriors held a significant edge on the glass,
out-rebounding Bowdoin 41-32 for the contest.
