Brandeis Wins Fourth ECAC Title
By Joseph Myers, Photo: Craig Chase, craigchasephotography.com
FREDERICK, Md. - The Brandeis University Judges made their first postseason trip since 2011 one for the ages, knocking off the Rutgers-Newark College Scarlet Raiders, 72-60, Sunday afternoon in the championship game of the Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III Men’s Basketball Tournament, played in the BB&T Arena at Hood College.
The Judges' title comes in their seventh trip to the ECAC Tournament and they are now 4-0 in ECAC Tournament title games, with the previous championships coming in 1974, 1992 and 2011. Brandeis (18-11) closes its season with four straight victories and seven wins in its last nine games. The 18 wins are the most for Brandeis since 2012-13.
The first half of the championship game was close throughout, with neither team leading by more than four points. There were nine ties and six lead changes before
Eric D'Aguanno of Brandeis made a layup with 1:13 to go before halftime to give the Judges a slim 31-29 lead at the break.
Chandler Jones had a big first half for the Judges with 12 points and seven rebounds and D'Aguanno pitched in eight points in the opening 20 minutes.
Tyler Ofray paced Rutgers-Newark with nine points and five rebounds and
Mark Thomas had seven for the Scarlet Raiders.
Rutgers-Newark (16-13) put together an 8-3 run in the opening moments of the second half to go up 37-34 on a Thomas basket with 17:54 to go, but back-to-back 3-pointers by
Corey Sherman and Jones put the Judges back in front. A few moments later, the Scarlet Raiders were hit with two technical fouls and Sherman made all four free throws to cap off a 10-0 run that put Brandeis ahead, 44-37, with 16:25 remaining.
The Scarlet Raiders chipped away at the Brandeis lead by piecing together an 11-2 run and taking a 48-46 lead with 13:56 left after a pair of Ofray free throws when the Judges were assessed a technical foul. Sawyer responded with a 3-pointer to give the lead back to Brandeis and the Judges scored 11 straight points and held Rutgers-Newark scoreless for more than four minutes to open up a 57-48 lead midway through the second half.
Rutgers-Newark got no closer than seven points the rest of the way - that coming at 57-50 after a pair of Ofray free throws with 9:50 left - as Brandeis was able to match the Scarlet Raiders basket for basket and preserve their lead en route to the tournament championship.
Jones led four Brandeis players in double figures with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Sherman had 16 and Sawyer and D'Aguanno finished with 15 apiece for the Judges, who held Rutgers-Newark to 14-for-44 shooting (31.8 percent) overall, including 5-of-16 (31.3 percent) from 3-point range.
Ofray had 15 points and eight rebounds and Thomas had 15 as well to lead the Scarlet Raiders in scoring. Barneys also reached double figures with 14 for Rutgers-Newark, which had won five of its last seven going into the title game.
Tournament MVP
Corey Sherman – Senior, Guard
All-Tournament Team
Corey Sherman – Brandeis University
Chandler Jones – Brandeis University
Tyler Ofray – Rutgers Newark
Chase Barney - Rutgers Newark
Riley Collins – Drew University
James Wells – Grove City College
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