BOX SCORE

BABSON PARK, Mass. - Senior Craig Johnson (Medford, Ore.) recorded eight points and one key assist in the final nine minutes to lead the visiting United States Coast Guard Academy to a hard-fought 53-51 come-from-behind victory over host Babson College in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) men's basketball contest at Staake Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Bears upped their record to 11-11 overall and 4-7 in the conference, while the Beavers lost their first league game in their last five outings to fall to 12-11 overall and 4-6 in the NEWMAC.

Despite facing foul trouble throughout most of the second half, Johnson still shot 6-for-7 for 14 points, six boards, two assists and two blocks in 35 minutes of action. Junior Eric Hudson (Pasadena, Calif.) added 13 points and four assists, first-year Theo Jensen (Doylestown, Pa.) contributed 12 points and three helpers, and sophomore Jevon James (St. Thomas, V.I.) finished a stellar game in the paint with eight points, 12 rebounds, three blocked shots, and two assists. As a team, the Bears shot 21-for-45 (46.7 percent) from the floor, including a 7-for-15 (46.7 percent) clip from long range, while recording 18 assists on their 21 field goals.

Like Johnson, Babson senior captain Zach Etten (Hollis, N.H.) was also plagued by foul trouble throughout the contest, finishing with eight points, two assists, and two steals in just 23 minutes of play before fouling out with 2:33 left. Senior Pat Belniak (Sutton, Mass.) joined his classmate with eight points to go with nine boards and a blocked shot, while first-year Marcus Edwards (East Hampton, N.Y.) finished with eight points and three steals. Rookie Kris Noonan (Boothbay Harbor, Maine) also has a solid game inside for the Beavers, posting six points and eight rebounds while defending Johnson, who was held to six points below his season average, for the majority of the contest.

A very physical first half featured huge runs by both teams, beginning with a 20-5 Babson barrage over the first seven minutes of play. First-year Matt Florio (Skillman N.J.) netted six points during the run, while Edwards tossed in four more. However, after hitting eight of their first 12 field goal attempts, the Beavers connected on just two of their next 20 shots as Coast Guard came storming back with a 20-4 run of its own. Johnson ignited the spurt with six straight points, while Jensen also added six points on a pair of three-pointers, including a trifecta that gave the Bears their first lead of the game, 25-24, with 2:48 remaining. Noonan then converted a lay-up with 18 seconds left in the period to give the hosts a 26-25 advantage heading into the locker room.

Babson pushed its advantage back up to nine on two occasions in the second half, but an 11-0 Coast Guard run capped by two free throws from Johnson gave the Bears just their second lead of the game, 44-42, with 8:38 remaining in the contest. After Babson sophomore Dana Mauro (Wethersfield, Conn.) and Johnson traded baskets, Noonan connected on a lay-up off a nice dish from senior Norm de Silva (Dartmouth, Mass.) to even the contest at 46-46 with just under eight minutes to play. However, Johnson then hit back-to-back lay-ups two minutes apart to put Coast Guard in front to stay, 50-46, with five minutes remaining.

Mauro converted one of two for Babson to make it a three-point contest, but Johnson found James in the paint for a smooth short-range jumper to give the Bears a 52-47 cushion with 2:18 on the clock. Belniak responded with an offensive rebound and put back 20 seconds later, and a pair of free throws by sophomore Matt Zoia (Nashua, N.H.) with 58.7 left cut the Beavers' deficit to just one at 52-51. However, James corralled the rebound after a missed free throw with 7.9 seconds remaining on Babson's next possession and Hudson knocked down the first of two free throws after drawing a foul to make it a 53-51 contest.

When Hudson's second freebie missed, Edwards made a nice effort to grab the rebound while falling out of bounds, but his desperation outlet pass to de Silva went out in front of the Coast Guard bench with just 2.5 seconds left. James then drew another foul with 1.5 remaining, but after rebounding his miss the Beavers were unable to get a shot off as Coast Guard claimed the 53-51 comeback victory.