BOSTON – Every player who touched the hardwood contributed at least one hoop to help Suffolk men's basketball defeat Brandeis 72-57 Wednesday night at the Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 72 | Brandeis 57
RECORDS: Suffolk (3-1) | Brandeis (2-2)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk built an eight-point lead as it kept the Judges off the scoreboard for nearly five minutes. The visitors' comeback came, however, as Brandeis outscored the blue-and-gold 10-2 to cut the margin to two, 15-13, at the midway point of the first frame.
Jarret Byrne jump started an 11-2 Rams run that stretch the hosts edge to 26-15, which forced the Judges to use a timeout with just under eight minutes to play before halftime.
Neither team scored for two minutes out of the break. Brandeis took control of the final five minutes though to pull within three, 32-29, at intermission. The Judges' late scoring stretch included Eric D'Aguanno's 200th career triple.
Momentum carried out of the locker room in Brandeis favor as the Judges went ahead for the first time on the night on their second possession. George Grillakis flipped the script back in Suffolk's as the senior sunk a trey on the Rams next offensive go.
Energy transitioned into the blue-and-gold's favor as it strung together four consecutive hoops. Those nine points turned it into a 49-38 Suffolk score with 13:15 on the clock.
Five minutes later and the Rams' 11-point margin stayed intact before growing to 17, 64-47, as Jonathan Eng buried a bucket from the behind-the-arc with just over six minutes remaining in regulation.
It was all clock composure from there for Suffolk who held off any late rallies from the Judges to secure the victory.
INSIDE THE NUMBRERS
- Nate Hale anchored the attack with an 18-point effort on a 6-for-8 showing from the field, including a 3-for-3 performance from downtown. The reserve grabbed four boards as well.
- Will Rose added 16 points, five rebounds, three assistsand two steals.
- Thomas Duffy had an overall outing with 10 points, five helpers, four caroms and two takeaways.
- Suffolk shot nearly 50 percent on the night, with a 49.0 connection rate from the field, an impressive 53.3 showing from behind-the-arc and shot 70 percent at the free throw line.
- The Judges, who received a game-high, 19 points from Collin Sawyer, out rebounded the Rams, 35-29.
NOTEWORTHY
- Suffolk strung its third straight win over Brandeis together to move to 8-38 all-time against the Judges.
- The blue-and-gold improved to 3-2 versus Brandeis under Jeff Juron's guidance.
- Rowe matched a personal-best in points (16), rebounds (5) and assists (3) and set a career-high two steals.
- Hale matched a career-best three three-point field goals made.
POST-GAME PIC
COMING UP
Suffolk ventures out on the road Saturday, Nov. 23 with a pit stop at Salve Regina on the schedule. Game time is set for 1 p.m.
