Nov. 17, 2007

Box Score (Babson vs. Bates) | Box Score (St. Lawrence vs. Connecticut College)

BABSON PARK, Mass. - Senior forwad Charles Stone (Hackensack, N.J.) recorded 17 points, six rebounds, and six assists to lead the Connecticut College men's basketball team to a 70-67 victory over St. Lawrence University in the championship game of the 2007 Babson Invitational Tournament presented by Irving Oil on Saturday afternoon. Stone was named the Tournament's Most Valuable Player, while senior teammate Jeff Young (East Hartford, Conn.) joined him on the All-Tournament Team.

Connecticut College never trailed in the contest, jumping out to an early 16-6 lead behind two early threes from junior Billy Karis (Potsdam, N.Y.) en route to a 32-28 halftime advantage. St. Lawrence would cut its deficit to just two on a lay-up by junior Tom Wopperer (Manlius, N.Y.) with 16:46 remaining in the second, but Stone and Young combined to score nine straight points as the Camels surged ahead, 44-33. Connecticut College continued to maintain a comfortable advantage until the closing minutes, when the Saints got to within four (64-60) on a three-pointer by Wopperer with 1:33 left in regulation.

After a pair of free throws by Stone pushed Connecticut College's lead back to six with 1:01 on the clock, junior Bela Vonnak (Canahoharie, N.Y.) converted a lay-up off an inbounds pass from sophomore Andy Hoercher (Auburn, N.Y.) to make it 66-62 with 47 ticks left. Following two more freebies by Camels' senior Christian Mosley (Virginia Beach, Va.), Hoercher knocked down a long trifecta from the left side to trim SLU's deficit to just three at 68-65 with 26 seconds remaining. Stone then drew a foul and converted one of two to make it a four-point game, but Wopperer answered with a short jumper from the right block to pull the Saints to within two, 69-67, with 10.3 on the clock.

Forced to foul, St. Lawrence still had a chance to tie after Connecticut College sophomore Shavar Bernier (Dover, N.H.) converted one of two from the foul line with 9.2 remaining in regulation. However, Mosley made a key defensive play to knock the ball loose on the ensuing possession, and the Saints were unable to recover in time to get a shot off as the Camels held on for the thrilling 70-67 victory.

In addition to Stone's MVP performance, Connecticut College also received 16 points apiece from Young and Bernier, as the trio shot a combined 17-for-28 from the field for a 60.9 percent clip. St. Lawrence placed five players in double-figures in defeat, led by 16 from Hoercher, 12 from Wopperer, and 11 from Vonnak. Sophomore Josh Sharlow (Norwood, N.Y.) and junior Richard Williams (Kingston, N.Y.) each finished with 10 points, while Williams also pulled down a game-high 11 boards. Wopperer and Vonnak were each named to the All-Tournament Team, as were Babson senior Kyle McDonald (Wethersfield, Conn.) and Bates senior Bryan Wholey (Marshfield, Mass.).

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Babson Defeats Bates, 69-60, in BIT/Irving Oil Consolation

BABSON PARK, Mass. - Senior tri-captian Kyle McDonald (Wethersfield, Conn.) scored a game-high 22 points to lead the Babson College men's basketball team to a 69-60 win over Bates College in the consolation game of the 2007 Babson Invitational Tournament presented by Irving Oil on Saturday afternoon. With the victory, the Beavers improved to 1-1 on the year, while Bates fell to 0-2.
 
Junior Zach Etten (Hollis, N.H.) scored six points during a 10-0 first-half run that turned a 6-5 deficit into a 15-6 advantage for Babson. Senior tri-captain Chris Bradley (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) added an emphatic two-hand dunk during the run for the Beavers, who eventually led by as many as 13 before taking a 32-23 lead into the break.
 
Bates cut its deficit down to just four twice early in the second half, including a 37-33 margin after a jumper by senior Bryan Wholey (Marshfield, Mass.) with 15:18 remaining. However, senior George Halcovage (Pottsville, Pa.) drained a three to spark a 12-0 run as Babson surged out to a commanding 52-33 lead, and the Bobcats never threatened as the Beavers claimed the eventual 69-60 victory.

McDonald finished with 22 points and five assists for Babson, as he was named to the All-Tournament Team. Etten added 16 points, five assists, and three steals for the Beavers, and Bradley pulled down a team-high nine rebounds.
 
Sophomore Chris Wilson (Brewer, Maine) paced Bates with 13 points, while first-year Brian Ellis (Braintree, Mass.) and senior Pat Halloran (Plymouth, N.H.) each added 12 points in defeat. Wholey finished with six points and four assists for the Bobcats, as he earned All-Tournament recognition.

2007 BABSON INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT presented by IRVING OIL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Charles Stone, Conn College - MVP
Jeff Young, Conn College
Tom Wopperer, SLU
Bela Vonnak, SLU
Kyle McDonald, Babson
Brian Wholey, Bates