Nov. 17, 2006

Box Score

BABSON PARK, Mass. - Senior guard Nick Farrell (Aspen, Colo.) scored a game-high 31 points to lead the Colby College men's basketball team to a 78-75 victory over host Babson College in the semifinals of the 2006 Babson Invitational Tournament presented by Irving Oil on Friday night. With the win, the White Mules (1-0) move on to face Washington University (1-0) in Saturday's championship game at 3 p.m. after the Bears defeated Vassar College, 79-74, in Friday's second semifinal matchup. Babson (0-1) and Vassar (0-1) will meet in Saturday's consolation game at 1 p.m.

After taking a 39-38 edge into the break, Babson eventually held a three point lead (46-43) with 18 minutes left in the second half. However, Colby exploded for a 13-0 run, including 10 straight points by junior Mark Gaudet (Bingham, Maine), to build a commanding 58-46 advantage with 11 minutes remaining. The Beavers later whittled the lead down to just four with six minutes on the clock, but the White Mules again responded with an 11-2 run, highlighted by a clutch three-pointer from Farrell and a lay-up by Gaudet that put Colby in front, 75-62.

Facing its largest deficit of the contest, Babson came storming back with a 12-1 run to get to within two, 76-74, with 51 seconds remaining. Sophomore Zach Etten (Hollis, N.H.) and junior Greg Bush (East Islip, N.Y.) each netted four points during the spurt, while senior co-captain Brandon Eigenberg (Milford, Conn.) added a big three-pointer.

Following a Babson defensive foul, Farrell sank both free throws to give the White Mules a 78-74 cushion with 26.7 seconds on the clock. Beavers' junior Chris Bradley (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) then drew a foul at the other end and sank one of two to make it a one-possession game with 11.3 ticks remaining, and Babson had a chance to tie after getting the ball back after a Colby turnover with 8.5 seconds left. However, the White Mules' defense did not allow a shot on the ensuing possession as they held on for the 78-75 victory.

Farrell shot 8-for-16 from the field, including a 7-for-10 clip from long range, and 8-for-8 at the line for his game-high 31 points. He also added four assists and five steals in the win. Gaudet chipped in with 22 points while hitting four from beyond the arc, while senior Drew Cohen (Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.) scored 12 points and blocked six shots. Senior Michael Westbrooks (Dublin, Ireland) was Colby's leading rebounder with 13 caroms.

Etten led Babson with 21 points on 6-of-13 shooting, including a thunderous reverse dunk on a baseline drive in the first half. Bush netted 13 points in defeat for the Beavers, while sophomore Norm de Silva (Dartmouth, Mass.) dished out a game-high six assists.

In the nightcap, first-year Cameron Smith (Noblesville, Ind.) scored seven points in the final 31 seconds to help Washington U. pull away with a 79-74 victory over Vassar. With his team leading by only two (71-69) inside the final minute, Smith drained a huge three-pointer from the corner to push his team's lead to five at 74-69. He then sank two straight freebies to make it 76-69 with 12 ticks left and two more with one second remaining to finish off the five-point win.

Juniors Troy Ruths (Sugar Land, Texas) and Danny O'Boyle (Scottsdale, Ariz.) each finished with 17 points to lead Washington, while sophomore Sean Wallis (Northbrook, Ill.) dished out 10 assists in the win. Vassar was paced by sophomore Brian Butterworth (Hamilton, Mass.), who scored 21 points, and junior Lawrence Avitabile (Southington, Conn.), who collected a team-best nine boards.