Dec. 1, 2007
Box Score
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Babson men's basketball team put up a valiant effort against its second top-10 opponent in the last five days, but the Beavers came up just short in a 68-66 loss to eighth-ranked Washington University in the championship game of the Lopata Classic in St. Louis. Babson was hit hard by foul trouble in the contest, losing three key forwards to disqualification, but senior co-captain Kyle McDonald kept the Beavers in it with a game-high 32 points. He and classmate Brian MacDonald were both named to the All-Tournament Team.
Washington junior Tyler Nading earned the Robert L. Burnes Most Valuable Player honors for the second-straight season, scoring 25 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the field.
A lay-up by Nading early in the second half gave Washington U. a 35-31 lead, and then another bucket by Nading pushed the lead to 47-42 with 12:26 remaining. The Bears took its largest lead of the game at 61-54 with 5:01 remaining, when Babson mounted its comeback. A three-pointer by McDonald cut the lead to two (61-59), and then a three by junior Zach Etten trimmed the Bears' lead to one at 63-62 with 2:46 left.
McDonald drained his fifth three-pointer of the game to give Babson a 65-63 lead with 1:29 left before Nading made 1-of-2 free-throws to cut the lead to one. Nading recorded a steal on the ensuing play and gave the Bears a 66-65 lead with 39 seconds after scoring on a lay-up. McDonald was fouled and made 1-of-2 free throws on the next possession, tying the game at 66-66.
After drawing a foul, sophomore Aaron Thompson went to the line and drained both free throws with 7.9 seconds left to put the Bears up 68-66. On the ensuing possession, McDonald was doubled at the top of the key with two seconds remaining and was forced to fire a pass to senior George Halcovage, whose shot attempt at the buzzer did not fall as Washington held on for the two-point victory.
Washington U. struggled offensively early in the game as Babson held an 11-5 lead through the first six minutes, taking advantage of six WU turnovers. A three-pointer by McDonald with 11:39 remaining in the first half pushed the Beavers lead to 16-10.
Nading tied the game for the fourth time (22-22) with a jumper at the 5:27 mark, and then sophomore Tom Blount put back an offensive rebound with one second left to knot the score at 29-29 at half. Nading had 10 points in the first half, while McDonald led all scorers with 15 points in the opening stanza.
Sophomore Cameron Smith tied his career-high with 10 points, while Ruths also added 10 points, five rebounds and four blocks. Thompson added seven points, a career-high 10 rebounds, and six assists in 40 minutes of action.
McDonald finished with a game-high 32 points on 5-of-6 shooting from three-point range. Senior tri-captain Chris Bradley added 10 points in the Babson frontcourt, which was ravaged by foul trouble throughout the contest. Bradley, senior Greg Bush, and junior Pat Belniak each had three personals in the first half before eventually fouling out in the second.
NOTE: Taken from a Washington University press release.
