Nov. 16, 2007
Box Score (Babson vs. Connecticut College) | Box Score (Bates vs. St. Lawrence)
BABSON PARK, Mass. -
Senior forwad Charles Stone (Hackensack, N.J.) hit the game-winning jumper with 4.0 seconds remaining in regulation to lift the visiting Connecticut College Camels to a 52-50 victory over host Babson College in the semifinals of the Babson Invitational Tournament presented by Irving Oil on Friday night. With the win, the Camels (1-0) advance to Saturday's championship game at 3 p.m., while the Beavers (0-1) will play in the consolation game at 1 p.m.
Connecticut College led by as many as 12 in the first half before taking a 26-19 advantage into the break. The Camels still led by as many as 10 (44-36) with 6:39 left in the second before Babson erupted for a 14-1 run to take the lead, 50-47. Senior tri-captain Chris Bradley (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) scored six of his eight points during the barage, which gave the Beavers a three-point edge with 1:34 remaining.
The Camels tied the game with 55 seconds left, as senior forward Jeff Young (East Hartford, Conn.) knocked down a three-pointer from deep in the left corner. Connecticut College then got the ball back on a huge steal by senior guard Christian Mosley (Virginia Beach, Va.) with 30 ticks remaining, and that set up Stone's clutch turnaround jumper in the lane that put the Camels in front, 52-50, with 4 seconds on the clock. Babson junior Zach Etten (Hollis, N.H.) would get a decent look after a timeout with 1.6 left, but his fadeaway three from the left corner rimmed out as the Camels held on for the win.
Stone was magnificent in the victory for Connecticut College, as he led all players with 15 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocked shots. Junior Billy Karis (Potsdam, N.Y.) added 12 points and four boards, while Mosley finished with 11 points.
Babson was led by senior tri-captain Kyle McDonald (Wethersfield, Conn.), who finished with 13 points and five rebounds, and seniro Greg Bush (East Isplip, N.Y.), who added 10 points and five rebounds despite being limited to just 14 minutes due to foul trouble. Bradley also had a strong game with eight points, seven boards, and two blocks, while Etten collected a team-best eight rebounds in defeat.
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St. Lawrence Advances With 72-63 Win Over Bates
BABSON PARK, Mass. - Junior Tom Wopperer (Manlius, N.Y.) scored a game-high 25 points to lead the St. Lawrence University Saints to a 72-63 victory over Bates College in the semifinals of the Babson Invitational Tournament presented by Irving Oil on Friday night. With the win, SLU (1-0) advances to Saturday's championship game against Connecticut College at 3 p.m., while Bates will take on Babson in the consolation game at 1 p.m. after the host Beavers fell to the Camels, 52-50, in the first semifinal matchup.
Bates never trailed in the first half, taking a 29-28 lead into the break. The Bobcats then continued to maintain the advantage early in the second half until sophomore Andy Hoercher (Auburn, N.Y.) hit a pair of free throws to give SLU its first lead of the contest, 46-45, with 12:14 remaining. The Saints would never relinquish that advantage, going up by as many as 10 (61-51) on a Wopperer lay-up with four minutes left. Bates senior Pat Halloran (Plymouth, N.H.) kept the Bobcats within striking distance with three clutch trifectas over the next three minutes, including one that made it a 67-62 game with 1:01 on the clock, but Hoercher and sophomore Josh Sharlow (Norwood, N.Y.) combined to shoot 5-for-6 from the free throw line down the stretch as SLU held on for the 72-63 victory.
Wopperer shot 10 for-14 from the field, including an outstanding 5-for-7 clip from long range, for his 25 points. Junior Bela Vonnak (Canahojarie, N.Y.) added 19 points and seven rebounds while shooting 8-for-9 from the floor, and Hoercher tallied 14 points while sinking 9 of 10 from the charity stripe. Sharlow also turned in a stellar performance at the point guard position for the Saints, amassing eight points, eight assists, seven rebounds, and three steals in the win.
Bates was led by the combination of senior Bryan Wholey (Marshfield, Mass.), who totaled 18 points, seven boards, and five assists, and sophomore Jimmy O'Keefe (Lexington, Mass.), who recorded 16 points on 8-of-10 shooting.
