The Justice

The final minute of regulation during the men's basketball team's game against Emory University last Friday night looked like a reprieve of the Judges' heartbreaking 71-69 home loss to Washington University in St. Louis Jan. 27.

In just nine seconds, a 75-72 Brandeis lead turned into a 77-75 deficit. After Emory senior guard Spiros Ferderigos hit two free throw shots, Brandeis turned the ball over on the ensuing inbounds pass. Emory junior guard Brian Giometti then sank a three-pointer with 22 seconds left.

"I was running down the floor [on the next possession] saying, 'Oh no, not again.' It's happened to us in so many games," guard Joe Coppens '08 said.

But with four seconds left, guard Andre Roberson '10 took a handoff from Coppens and was fouled on his game-winning three-point attempt from the top of the key. He hit two of three free throws to send the game into overtime, and Brandeis dominated the extra period, never trailing in finally defeating the Eagles 90-85.

"I was trying to go up and shoot it, but as I was shooting it, [Giometti] pushed me in my side and drifted me away from the basket; it got me off balance," Roberson said. "I was open at first, but the window closed on me. I was able to get the foul and capitalize on the free-throws."

Brandeis went 2-0 at home on the weekend, soundly defeating Case Western Reserve University 88-57 last Sunday to move to 16-4 on the season and 6-3 in University Athletic Association play, putting them in a tie for second place with the University of Rochester and the University of Chicago.

"We control our own destiny," Coppens said. "We beat a couple of teams we should have beat and put ourselves in a great position for the future."

Continued...

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