Spring Break
MBBALL: Just out of reach
by Jeffrey Pickette
Senior writer
Sports | 1/22/08
Posted online at 12:42 AM EST on 1/22/08
/ Last updated at 8:44 PM EST on 1/22/08
With less than three minutes remaining, Brandeis, aided by three-pointers from guard Andre Roberson '10 and Coppens, climbed back to within two points in the final minute.
On the ensuing possession, Rochester senior guard Jeff Juron hit a layup and drew the foul, and after starting the game nine for 18 from the free throw line, the Yellowjackets hit their final 10 attempts to hold on for the win.
Despite the loss, Coppens didn't see a reason for panic.
"[The Rochester game proved] we can hang in there with any team in the entire country," he said.
"It doesn't matter if we're playing bad or playing great-we can beat anybody that is put in front of us. We just have to make smart plays at the end of the game, and we didn't today."
Starting forwards Stephen Hill '08 and Terrell Hollins '10 picked up two fouls apiece by the ninth minute of play, forcing Meehan to go to his bench.
Hill and Hollins were limited to just eight combined minutes of action in the first half, while reserve forwards Christian Yemga '11, Napoleon Lherrison '11 and Rich McGee '10 combined for 33.
Although he was impressed with Yemga and Lherrison's play, Meehan said he ideally would have liked to stick with his veterans against a team of Rochester's caliber.
"We need our older guys to play well and stay in the game," Meehan said. "We don't want to have freshmen playing those types of minutes. They're still learning and you don't want them learning in pressure situations."
Hollins leads the team in scoring, averaging 14.9 points per game, but was held without a field goal until the final seconds and finished with a season-low three points.
"[Rochester's defense] wasn't different from anything else that I've seen," Hollins said. "For some reason I lost some aggressiveness."
Despite the loss, the Judges were able to pick up a conference road victory last Friday at No. 24 Carnegie Mellon. After the Judges jumped out to a 35-20 halftime lead, the Tartans were able to reduce the deficit to 38-34 early in the second half.
Brandeis held off the comeback effort, going on a 19-7 run en route to a 60-48 win.
The Judges will have another chance to knock off Rochester when the two teams meet in Waltham Feb. 15, but until then, the Judges must navigate through a typically difficult UAA schedule.
"I can't wait," Coppens said regarding a rematch with the Yellowjackets.
"But, we have to take that one game at a time mentality. We have Chicago coming up on Friday, so we'll focus on them first."
The Judges return home for the first time this semester with UAA games against the University of Chicago Friday at 8 p.m. and No. 5 Washington University in St. Louis Sunday at noon.
On the ensuing possession, Rochester senior guard Jeff Juron hit a layup and drew the foul, and after starting the game nine for 18 from the free throw line, the Yellowjackets hit their final 10 attempts to hold on for the win.
Despite the loss, Coppens didn't see a reason for panic.
"[The Rochester game proved] we can hang in there with any team in the entire country," he said.
"It doesn't matter if we're playing bad or playing great-we can beat anybody that is put in front of us. We just have to make smart plays at the end of the game, and we didn't today."
Starting forwards Stephen Hill '08 and Terrell Hollins '10 picked up two fouls apiece by the ninth minute of play, forcing Meehan to go to his bench.
Hill and Hollins were limited to just eight combined minutes of action in the first half, while reserve forwards Christian Yemga '11, Napoleon Lherrison '11 and Rich McGee '10 combined for 33.
Although he was impressed with Yemga and Lherrison's play, Meehan said he ideally would have liked to stick with his veterans against a team of Rochester's caliber.
"We need our older guys to play well and stay in the game," Meehan said. "We don't want to have freshmen playing those types of minutes. They're still learning and you don't want them learning in pressure situations."
Hollins leads the team in scoring, averaging 14.9 points per game, but was held without a field goal until the final seconds and finished with a season-low three points.
"[Rochester's defense] wasn't different from anything else that I've seen," Hollins said. "For some reason I lost some aggressiveness."
Despite the loss, the Judges were able to pick up a conference road victory last Friday at No. 24 Carnegie Mellon. After the Judges jumped out to a 35-20 halftime lead, the Tartans were able to reduce the deficit to 38-34 early in the second half.
Brandeis held off the comeback effort, going on a 19-7 run en route to a 60-48 win.
The Judges will have another chance to knock off Rochester when the two teams meet in Waltham Feb. 15, but until then, the Judges must navigate through a typically difficult UAA schedule.
"I can't wait," Coppens said regarding a rematch with the Yellowjackets.
"But, we have to take that one game at a time mentality. We have Chicago coming up on Friday, so we'll focus on them first."
The Judges return home for the first time this semester with UAA games against the University of Chicago Friday at 8 p.m. and No. 5 Washington University in St. Louis Sunday at noon.
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