Northeast Conference Notebook
by Zach Smart
Bobcats Improve To 4-2 with Victory over Red Raiders
HAMDEN, Conn. – The expression “Be a senior” is one coined by a former University of South Carolina-Spartanburg (USC Upstate) coach named Chris Ward. Ward, who helped resurrect an ailing program during his stay as a Spartan coach, could always be found on the sidelines repeating this phrase to his senior players before a big shot in a pivotal game. The term encourages one to rise to the occasion, to make everything of a critical moment during the final stage of one’s career. After all, it’s senior leaders who win basketball games.
Quinnipiac senior captain Craig Benson lived the aforementioned phrase on Dec. 5, helping propel the Bobcats to a 69-57 victory over visiting Colgate in the first-ever meeting between the two teams. The victory lifted the Bobcats to 4-2, their best record in as many years.
Benson, a non-factor up until the second half, drained a game altering three-point bucket from the left side with 3:28 remaining to give the ‘Cats a 62-56 advantage they wouldn’t relinquish. The senior from Hamden, Conn. (Quinnipiac’s home) made a steal shortly afterward on one of the Red Raiders’ most important possessions of the night, to preserve the win.
Colgate fought valiantly throughout the second half, cutting the lead to three with 4:11 remaining. But the ‘Cats, behind 21 points from junior guard/forward John Winchester, were able to claw them off. Winchester (5-10 FG, 8-11FT), a transfer from the SEC’s University of Tennessee, nailed all three of his three-point attempts and added 5 boards and two steals.
QU jumped out to an early lead, but the Red Raiders climbed right back. A trey by Kyle Roemer concluded a 13-4 Red Raider run to give them a 15-13 advantage. The Bobcats held a 28-27 lead at the half.
Fueled by a 21-13 run to open up the half, the Bobcats increased their lead to nine. A jumper by point guard Adam Gonzales (10 points, six assists, three steals) followed by a Kevin Jolley lay-in put QU ahead 49-40 with 12:11 to go.
Colgate responded, but the ‘Cats built the lead back up to nine after a Chris Wehye layup made the score 55-46.
A Winchester trifecta put the Bobcats ahead 59-51 at the six-minute mark. The Red Raiders then responded by scoring five unanswered points, with Alvin Reed’s three-pointer bringing them within three.
Following Benson’s three-pointer, Victor Akinyanju connected on shot in the paint to bring the lead back to six. A pair of errant passes resulted in turnovers for the Raiders, before another three from Reed kept Colgate within striking distance. The Bobcats put the game on ice at the charity stripe and pulled away.
Winchester’s 21 points marks the first time this season that a QU player has gone over 20. The balanced Bobcats are led by Wehye’s 13 points per game. Akinyanju picked up a double-double in the contest with 12 points and 12 boards.
Reed finished with a team-high 14 points to go over 900 points in his collegiate career. Roemer added 11 on 4-of-13 shooting, while Jon Foss chipped in with eight.
On a night when Quinnipiac started five juniors, the senior wisdom of Benson, who’s emerged into a leadership role this year, was much-needed. Bouncing back from a nagging injury which sidelined him for a pair of games, Benson came off the bench to score 7 points on 3-for-4 shooting. He also handed out three assists and picked up two steals.
The sight of Benson’s three-ball splashing through the net would have surely brought a smile to the face of Ward, who’s now the vice president of basketball operations at the prestigious Teaches Hoops in nearby Chappaqua, N.Y.
FDU Falls To Seton Hall: The Knights fell to 4-3 after a 65-57 loss to Seton Hall at Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, N.J. A strong second half spurt by the Pirates was too much for the Knights to overcome. The Knights outplayed the Hawks for 32 minutes of the game, but it wasn’t enough. The Pirates gained momentum heading into the break, going on a 12-5 run over the last seven minutes of the first half. FDU increased their lead to eight at the start of the second half, but the Pirates came roaring back, building a seven-point advantage with 5:37 left to play. Senior guard Donald Copeland paced Seton Hall with 20 points. Conference player of the year candidate Gordon Klaiber (4-13 FG), Chad Timberlake, and Bernell Murray (4-13 FG) each scored 11 for the Knights. Timberlake collected a season-high eight assists.
St. Bonaventure 85, Central Connecticut 56: At Olean, N.Y., St. Bonaventure snapped the Blue Devils’ two-game winning streak, leaving them at 3-3 on the season. Ahmad Smith scored 19 points, pulled down 10 rebounds, and dished out eight assists to lead the Bonnies. Jason Hickenbottom, Obie Nwadike, and Lenny Jefferson each scored 10 for CCSU.
Sacred Heart 76, Army 72: At Fairfield, Conn., Kibwe Trim continued his outstanding play with a game-high 25 points and ten rebounds as Sacred Heart snapped its four-game losing streak. SHU now stands at 2-5. Matt Bell paced Army with 15 points.
