Coolahan's Runner Helps Beavers Overcome 18-Point Halftime Deficit for OT Win

BABSON PARK, Mass.—Senior Jack Coolahan (Newtown, Pa.) scored the go-ahead hoop with 4.1 seconds to go as No. 17 Babson College rallied from an 18-point halftime deficit to edge the visiting Coast Guard Academy in overtime, 94-92, in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) men's basketball action on Wednesday night inside Staake Gymnasium.

With its second consecutive win, Babson improves to 12-2 overall and 2-1 in league play, while Coast Guard drops to 5-8 overall and 0-3 in the NEWMAC with its fourth straight loss.

Junior Andrew Jaworski (Tolland, Conn.) scored 24 of his game-high 26 points in the second half and overtime to pace four Beavers in double figures. Classmate Crew Ainge (Wellesley, Mass.) contributed a season-high 23 points to go along with seven rebounds, four steals and three assists, while both Coolahan and senior Frank Oftring (North Attleboro, Mass.) added 17 points in the win.

Sophomore Tyler Perez (Ponta Vedra Beach, Fla.) finished with 23 points and eight boards, while senior Noah Baldez (Lower Gwynedd, Pa.) scored 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting to go along with four assists to lead the Bears. Classmate Sean Graytok (Greensburg, Pa.) chipped in with 10 points and fellow senior Justin Kane (Arnold, Md.) added nine points and pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds in the loss.

Down 49-31 at the break, the Green and White chipped away at its deficit and had gotten as close as four with under five minutes to play before Perez knocked down a three-pointer to extend the Coast Guard advantage back to 84-76 with 1:50 left in regulation. Coolahan made two free throws, Jaworski canned a triple from the top of the key, and Oftring followed up two free throws by Baldez with another three-pointer to pull Babson within 86-84 with 1:00 remaining.

Jaworski missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 13 ticks left, but junior Matt Pattyson (Doylestown, Pa.) grabbed an offensive rebound and Jaworski converted a driving layup with 0:07 left that would force overtime following a Bears' turnover with 0.9 seconds to go. Ainge and Coast Guard senior Packy Witkowski (Melrose, Mass.) traded hoops putting the visitors up 89-88 just under two minutes into the extra session, but Jaworski put Babson back in front at the 1:43 mark and then finished inside to make it 92-89 with 21 seconds to go.

Witkowski tied the game with a three-pointer from the left corner with 13 seconds remaining, but Coolahan rushed up court and hit an off-balance runner following a spin move in the paint to give the Beavers the lead for good. Baldez weaved through three Babson defenders but his potential game-tying bid bounced off the front rim as time expired.

The opening half featured eight early lead changes before Coast Guard scored on seven straight possessions and ripped off a 16-3 run to open a 42-26 advantage at the 4:26 mark. The Bears went 6-of-10 from distance and shot 59.4 percent over the first 20 minutes on the way to building an 18-point halftime lead.

The Green and White shot 55 percent after halftime and turned 19 Coast Guard turnovers into 20 points. The Bears shot 56.9 percent for the game and finished with a 38-32 edge on the glass.

Both teams return to action on Saturday at 1 p.m. as Babson travels to Clark, while Coast Guard hosts WPI.

GAME NOTES
• The Beavers are 56-27 all-time against Coast Guard and have won 17 of the last 18 meetings between the programs.
• Babson is 2-2 this season in games decided by five points or less, and the victory was the first in overtime since January 2018 for the Green and White.
• The Beavers are now 8-0 this winter when at least four players score in double figures.
• Babson is 7-0 on the year when scoring at least 90 points.