Daniel Webster Eagles Run Ends, Fall To Rivier 75-70 in ECAC Men's Basketball Semifinals
- Best Season In Program History Comes To A Close -
NASHUA, N.H. - Kevin Harrington (Center
Ossipee, N.H.) led four players in double figures with 17 points
while Lance Bisson (Nashua, N.H.) and Nick
Bean (E. Longmeadow, Mass.) added 15 each guiding
seventh-seeded Rivier College past sixth-seeded and host Daniel
Webster College, 75-70 in the ECAC New England Championship
semifinals before a full house Saturday afternoon.
The largest estimated crowd in Mario Vagge Gymnasium history saw
the Raiders (16-12) advance to its first championship game to face
the winner of either No. 1 seed Lasell or No. 4 seed Becker in
tomorrow's final. The two play late Saturday in the second
semifinal.
Brian Inge (Ft. Washington, Md.) closed out his
stellar two-year Eagle career with a game high 21 points including
18 in the second half as Daniel Webster finished its best overall
season in program history at 18-10 overall.
Chris Hanson (Salem, Mass.) added 18 for the
Eagles, all in the first half, while William Kemp
Harris (Suitland, Md.) added eight points and eight
rebounds. Tim Jackson (W. Henrietta, N.Y.),
Adam Landry (Vernon, Conn.) and Steve
Savage (Salem, N.H.) chipped in six points apiece.
Don Poitras (Bow, N.H.) added nine points and a
game high nine rebounds for the Raiders.
The game marked the 36th all time meeting between the two longtime
Nashua rivals, but only their third postseason meeting and first in
11 years. Both squads were also making their first appearance in
the ECAC tourney.
Rivier advanced despite turning the ball over 24 times, thanks to
an important advantage on the boards (45-32) as the Eagles were
limited to just three second chance points. Rivier also finished
with a 34-18 scoring edge in the paint.
Cold Eagle shooting throughout was another factor. DWC managed just
29-percent in the first half (9-31), while Rivier hit 44-percent
(14-32) and the Raiders held a 38-31 lead at the break.
DWC improved to 39-percent in the second, but the Raiders hit the
shots they needed down the stretch to hold off a second half Eagle
charge.
Trailing 49-40 with 14:27 remaining, Inge dropped a three and after
a Bisson tip in, Harris followed with a layup, Inge added a jumper
and Chris Voukides (Salem, N.H.) nailed a trey
from deep in the left pocket for a 51-50 game with 10:57 left.
Bisson followed with a jumper in the lane at the 10 minute mark,
but two turnovers and seven straight missed shots doomed the Eagles
hopes as Rivier rebuilt the lead to 63-50 following two Bean free
throws with 4:24 to go.
Down 69-59 with 47 seconds left, Inge hit from downtown for a 69-62
game with 37 ticks to go, but Harrington went 5 for 6 at the line
in the closing seconds to ice it.
The Eagles bid farewell to three seniors: Inge, who finished with
755 points in two seasons, Jackson, and Joel
Prince (Woodbridge, Va.), who dished out four assists in
his final game.
Story Courtesy of Daniel Webster Sports Information
