Spring Break
MBBALL: Judges get back on track
by Jeffrey Pickette and Mike Prada
Sports | 2/5/08
Posted online at 4:17 AM EST on 2/5/08
With 5 minutes, 33 seconds remaining in regulation last Sunday at Emory University, the 10-ranked men's basketball team clung to a slim lead much like they did in two home losses to the University of Chicago and Washington University in St. Louis Jan. 25 and 27. This time, the Judges held on.
Guard Andre Roberson '10, who terrorized the Eagles defense to the tune of 29 points on just nine field goals, sank a three-pointer to give Brandeis a 74-67 lead, and the Judges converted their foul shots down the stretch to secure a much-needed 88-81 University Athletic Association win.
"All through our losing streak, we were beating ourselves," Roberson said. "It wasn't like our opponent was someone we were unfamiliar with. … In crucial situations, we weren't making the right plays at the right time like we usually do."
They did just that last weekend in snapping a three-game losing streak, moving back to 14-4 and 4-3 in the conference after last Friday's 90-75 win at Case Western Reserve University. The two victories put the Judges just a game behind Chicago, WashU, and the University of Rochester, who each lost at least one game last weekend, for first place in the conference.
After trailing by nine points in the first half, Brandeis rallied with a 16-3 run, and continued to build the lead in the second half, as a Roberson layup with 10:49 left gave the Judges a 65-55 advantage. But Emory proved to be resilient, outscoring Brandeis 12-4 in the next three minutes, cutting the deficit to only two points with 7:47 remaining.
Unlike during its losing streak, Brandeis made the key plays down the stretch in this contest. The Eagles had a chance to tie the game, but point guard Kwame Graves-Fulgham '08 got the biggest of his four steals in the game, taking the ball away from rookie Julien Williams in the backcourt and scoring the layup to put Brandeis up by four points.
Sophomore forward Anthony Rodriguez missed a three-pointer on the ensuing possession, and Roberson hit his three to put the Judges up by seven points. Emory cut the lead to three points with 3:37 remaining, but Roberson hit two free throws and reserve forward Christian Yemga '11 had consecutive layups on the next two possessions to give Brandeis an 82-74 advantage with 1:57 remaining.
Guard Andre Roberson '10, who terrorized the Eagles defense to the tune of 29 points on just nine field goals, sank a three-pointer to give Brandeis a 74-67 lead, and the Judges converted their foul shots down the stretch to secure a much-needed 88-81 University Athletic Association win.
"All through our losing streak, we were beating ourselves," Roberson said. "It wasn't like our opponent was someone we were unfamiliar with. … In crucial situations, we weren't making the right plays at the right time like we usually do."
They did just that last weekend in snapping a three-game losing streak, moving back to 14-4 and 4-3 in the conference after last Friday's 90-75 win at Case Western Reserve University. The two victories put the Judges just a game behind Chicago, WashU, and the University of Rochester, who each lost at least one game last weekend, for first place in the conference.
After trailing by nine points in the first half, Brandeis rallied with a 16-3 run, and continued to build the lead in the second half, as a Roberson layup with 10:49 left gave the Judges a 65-55 advantage. But Emory proved to be resilient, outscoring Brandeis 12-4 in the next three minutes, cutting the deficit to only two points with 7:47 remaining.
Unlike during its losing streak, Brandeis made the key plays down the stretch in this contest. The Eagles had a chance to tie the game, but point guard Kwame Graves-Fulgham '08 got the biggest of his four steals in the game, taking the ball away from rookie Julien Williams in the backcourt and scoring the layup to put Brandeis up by four points.
Sophomore forward Anthony Rodriguez missed a three-pointer on the ensuing possession, and Roberson hit his three to put the Judges up by seven points. Emory cut the lead to three points with 3:37 remaining, but Roberson hit two free throws and reserve forward Christian Yemga '11 had consecutive layups on the next two possessions to give Brandeis an 82-74 advantage with 1:57 remaining.
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