Men's Basketball Remains Perfect With 78-71 Win Over Bridgeport
Box Score
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (Jan. 14, 2009) - The No. 3 C.W. Post men's basketball team ran its undefeated streak to 11 games as senior guard Nick Carter (Huntington Station, N.Y.) scored a game-high 28 points and junior forward Lyndon Daniel (St. George's, Grenada) notched a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds, leading the Pioneers past the University of Bridgeport on Wednesday evening in men's basketball East Coast Conference action.
The Pioneers' 11-0 record continues what is their best start in program history, and they also have an unblemished 5-0 slate in ECC action. The Purple Knights fall to 8-5 overall and 2-3 in the conference.
The first five minutes of the game saw the teams trade baskets until the 14:14 mark, when Kevin Spann's lay-in gave the Pioneers a five points lead (15-10), their largest of the game. A jumper by Kenny Burkes (Suitland, Md.) gave the Pioneers an eight point lead (24-16) with 8:55 remaining in the half, but two quick Purple Knight baskets and a trey by Dave Boykin saw the Pioneer lead cut to only one point.
At 1:41, Demetrios Phillips made two free throws to tie the game at 32-32, and a jumper by Jermaine Washington put the hosts up by a bucket with 1:08 remaining. A lay-up by Carter with 38 seconds remaining in the half tied the game at 34 apiece, and it remained tied heading into the halftime break.
The Pioneers came out of the half with a quick bucket by Daniel and a free throw by Schmidt and quickly jumped out to a lead of six points after a trey by Carter at 18:07 (42-36). They pushed the lead to seven points after another trey by Carter at 13:51 (50-43), but saw the Purple Knights chip away at the lead until they were down only one after a Phillips dunk. The hosts took a 57-55 lead after a Boykin trey (10:15) but the Pioneers answered right back with a trey by senior guard Jonathan Schmidt (Centereach, N.Y.) with 9:53 remaining. After a turnover by UB, Spann hit a three of his own to push the Pioneers to a four point lead with 9:35 to play.
However, the Purple Knights were not done, and they clawed back to tie the score at 67-67 after a pair of free throws by Boykin, but a layup by Spann put the Pioneers back on top, 69-67, with 4:4 remaining. The Pioneers held onto the lead the rest of the way with Burkes hitting 5-of-6 from the charity stripe to seal with win for CWP.
The Pioneers shot 44.6% (25-of-56) from the floor and 50% (9-of-18) from behind the arc. They held a 34-28 edge in rebounds over Bridgeport, who shot 50% from the floor (29-of-58).
In addition Carter and Daniel, Burkes and Spann scored in double figures for the Pioneers; Burkes with 14 points and Spann with 12, and both with four steals, respectively.
Boykin led UB with 22 points, followed by Teairez Stennis with 12 points, Jermaine Washington with 11 and Phillips with 10.
The Pioneers return to action on Saturday, Jan. 17, as they look to remain undefeated, taking on NYIT in conference action slated for 3:30 p.m.