COLCHESTER, VT – The Assumption men's basketball team defeated Bloomfield College 82-81 in overtime on Saturday evening to get their first win of the young season in the Best Western Windjammer Doc Jacobs Classic.
THE BASICS
Score: Assumption University 82, Bloomfield College 81 - OT
Records: Greyhounds (1-1, 0-0 NE10), Bears (1-1, 0-0 CACC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Assumption jumped out to a quick lead, with
Kasey Draper getting her fifth point on a driving layup to put Assumption up 10-4.
Daouda Dembele started having a good day, putting back a layup at 13:37 to increase Assumptions lead to 16-6. The Hounds got into a comfortable lead at 28-16. However, the Bears ripped off an 11-0 run to make it a game again and get back within one, as Izaiah Poole knocked down a free throw for his 11th points. Assumption attempted to add to the lead as halftime began to tic closer, as
Kani Glover knocked down a three off of an
Alex Carlisle assist to put the Blue and White back up by five. On the last play of the half,
Kyle Hicks managed a layup with four seconds to go, giving the Hounds a 40-33 advantage at the break.
Dembele used the beginning of the second half to put together an excellent performance, getting the first four points in the second half for the Hounds to put them up 44-37. The Bears would not go away quietly, with Starrell Hearns knocking down a three and a layup, keeping Bloomfield within three. Hicks added to his stat line, throwing down a dunk and following it up 30 seconds later with a three-ball to push the Hounds up 58-54 with 9:40 to go. Bloomfield fought back to take a slight three-point lead, and with a minute to go, Hicks had a trip to the free-throw line. He made the first, and Dembele crashed in to put back the miss and tie the game 73-73 with a minute to go. On the defensive end, they forced a turnover out of the Bears, calling a timeout, and the Hounds would get the ball with 30 seconds to go. Glover would try to get the shot up on the last possession, but the Bears forced a jump ball, and the possession would stay with Assumption. Bloomfield picked it off and had eight seconds to go all the way for a buzzer-beater but had to hurry it at the horn, missing the potential winner and pushing the game into overtime.
Hicks continued his efficient day into the overtime, knocking down a three to put his numbers up to 7/10 from the field. Al Fatir Connor responded with back-to-back buckets, pushing Bloomfield up to 79-76 with 1:32 to go, and they would take a timeout with possession. Draper would get sent to the line at 1:04, making one of two to cut the deficit to two. Conner responded with a tough basket on the other end, while the Bears fouled Draper, shooting a three-pointer, and he knocked down all three free throws to get the Hounds within one with 27 seconds. The Bears missed a 1-for-1 chance at the line, allowing the Hounds a chance to take a lead. Hicks took his moment and knocked down a floater off the class, getting Assumption the lead back with eight seconds remaining. With a chance to win it, Bloomfield attacked the basket, and Dembele saved the day with a game-sealing block to get Assumption over the line with their first win, 82-81.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Draper continued his strong start as a Hound, leading the team with 21 points on 6-13 shooting.
- Hicks was right behind with 20, shooting 66.6 percent from the field and 3-3 from beyond the arc.
- Dembele piled in 16 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks.
- The Hounds were 8/15 from beyond the arc and held the lead for 80.3 percent of the contest.
UP NEXT
- AU vs SCSU, Saturday, November 18, 1:00 pm
- Bloomfield vs New Haven, Wednesday, November 15, 7:30 pm
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