MBB: NESCAC

[P'bearfan]

Bowdoin trailing Trinity at the half: 19 - 25.  Game isn't quite the physical slug fest as the last time these two teams met but Bowdoin is still having a terrible day shooting.  The P'bears are shooting 27.6% from the floor and a miserable 7.7% from behind the arc (that's not a typo). 

Swords already has 9 points and is playing very well inside.  However, he picked up 2 fouls and sat on the bench late in the period. I suspect he'll be on the floor a lot more in the 2nd half. 

Hopefully the P'bears can find a shooting rythm soon.

[P'bearfan]

Uncharactersistically, Bowdoin's bench has contributed only 2 points so far.  That will need to change as well in the second half.  Bowdoin is at its best when the bench contributes 16 - 18 points per game.

[nescac1]

The road teams are all giving very spirited battles today.  Shows just how competitive and deep NESCAC is ... nobody wants their season to end without a fight.  Surprised that Colby has been hanging so tough with Amherst -- I imagine that all Amherst opponents for the rest of the season will want to have a consultation with Coach Strahorn! 

[middhoops]

Bantams up 39-25 in the 2nd at Bowdoin.

[nescac1]

That ties with the Midd game for the best win of the season for Williams.  Tufts had a perfect gameplan and really played very well, Haladyna-Ferris-Sabety were a great 1-2-3 punch, and Kwame Firepong played great on both ends, far better than his stats would indicate.  He covered Duncan Robinson for much of the game and was right in his face, taking him out of his comfort zone (and when Duncan drove, he often was confronted with Sabety).  It's not too often that Robinson will be the third best first-year on the floor, but he was today.  Hey, the guy is human after all. 

For Williams, Mayer was the man today, just absolutely dominating offensively despite facing one of the best defensive centers in the league.  30 points, 8 boards, 4 assists, 2 steals, he was the man.  But in overtime, Taylor Epley, who had been very quiet all game, just absolutely took over -- scoring 9 points after scoring only 6 in regulation, taking the ball hard to the basket, and of course drawing the critical fifth foul on Sabety.  And of course, Mike Greenman just continues to be absolutely money -- guy is a baby-faced assassin, no fear whatsoever. 

I really love Williams with Hayden coming off the bench.  He provides a scoring / play-making spark on the second unit which had really been missing.  I expect that he will play a lot more than 12 minutes next weekend, and he should be an invaluable sixth man going forward.  I just don't see how the Ephs can return Greenman to the bench the way he has been playing, but I see Hayden as essentially a sixth starter playing big minutes going forward. 

Kudos to Tufts for really playing well any laying it all on the line, but once Sabety fouled out, they were just an entirely different team. 

Now, GO COLBY!!!

[middhoops]

PBs making a huge comeback now.

[lefrakenstein]

Amherst holds on for the win 82-72 in a game where they shot terribly. Turnovers and offensive rebounds were really the difference in this one, as Amherst shot poorly, but earned enough extra shots to put them over the top. I thought David George had an especially nice game, grabbing 15 boards, including 5 offensive. He also had 4 blocks, 2 steals and 10 points. One of the first games in awhile where I thought he got maximum leverage out of his athleticism and size. 

I can't believe Sabety missed that ft, but looking forward to Midd-Williams.

[daoustian]

Now, GO COLBY!!!

That's not very sporting.  Make your Hadley hotel reservations for next weekend. 
All Amherst starters in double figures, great run halfway through the second half to shake off those pesky White Mules. 
Good to see Green step up for the first time in several games to counter a very poor game from Toomey. 

[nescac1]

You can't blame me for rooting for an outcome that would lead to Williams hosting!  But alas, it was not to be.

Bowdoin-Trinity is a really fun, back-and-forth, great game.  The Bowdoin play-by-play guy on the webcast is AMAZING.  Sort of like if Tommy Heinson decided to moonlight as a D3 webcaster. 

[jayhawk]

agree with Amherst game comments particularly about David George who did an excellent job on boards, altering and blocking shots and very encouraged by one on one defense on Hudnut

fully understand NESCAC1 hoping that Williams would host semifinal and Nescac finals

[middhoops]

PBs and Bantams in OT.  Highly recommend.

[nescac1]

"I think that was tipped in by Sir Isaac Newton."  It's official, this guy needs to be the designated play-by-play guy for all future NESCAC webcasts. 

Could be headed to double OT in Brunswick!

[warriorcat]

This announcer is one of the funniest I have heard.  Is he serious?

[lefrakenstein]

Big plays from Papadeas in the overtime - one putback bucket and two steals of entry passes to Swords. He has Bowdoin up one in the second extra period.

[lefrakenstein]

Hurley hits a buzzer-beating three to send it to triple OT.

This has been an awesome set of games.