Box Score
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Sophomore forward
Daniel Minto (West Hempstead, NY) scored a career high 20 points and made a key block in the final minute to lead the Western New England men's basketball team to a 54-50 victory over Gordon Tuesday night (Jan. 25) at the Alumni Healthful Living Center.
The Golden Bears, who bounced back from a 70-69 overtime loss against the University of New England last Saturday, raised their record to 6-10 overall and 3-7 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC).
Minto was the difference making 7-of-11 shots from the floor and pulling down eight rebounds. He was the only Golden Bears player scoring in double figures.
Western New England controlled the opening half and led by 15 with a under little less than three minutes left before the Fighting Scots scored the last six points to trail by nine (28-19) at the break.
Gordon (6-11, 5-5 CCC) then scored the first eight points of the second half before finally tying the contest at 35-35 when junior forward
David Dempsey (Wallingford, CT) hit a jumper with exactly 13 minutes to play.
The Fighting Scots took their only lead of the game at 41-40 after freshman center
Hans Miersma (Whitinsville, MA) made a layup with 8:06 left.
WNE used a mini 8-1 run to take a 48-42 lead following a basket by sophomore guard
Ryan Mickiewicz (East Longmeadow, MA) at the 4:55 mark. The game stayed close with the visitors getting within 49-48 when Miersma hit a short jumper with 1:29 remaining.
Minto then made one of two foul shots with 1:05 left and blocked a shot by Dempsey on the next possession. Minto sank two more free throws for a 52-48 margin with 19.8 seconds remaining and senior guard
Andre Shaw (New York, NY) added two more charity shots for a six-point cushion.
Gordon sophomore guard
Park Thomas (Scottsdale, AZ) made two free throws with 3.7 seconds left to complete the scoring.
Miersma finished with 13 points and eight rebounds while Thomas chipped-in with 12 points and four assists. Dempsey had a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Junior guard
Damon Alston (New Britain, CT) and freshman forward
Musa Elsir (Springfield, MA) each netted nine and eight points, respectively, for Western New England.
Gordon, coached by former NBA player
Tod Murphy, won the previous meeting between the teams 63-56 back on November 30 in Wenham, Massachusetts.
Contact: Ken Cerino, Western New England athletic communications director (413) 782-1227
kcerino@wne.edu
