Spring Break
MBBALL: Suffocating defense leads team to easy victory over NYU
by Mike Prada
Editor in Chief
Sports | 3/4/08
Posted online at 3:51 AM EST on 3/4/08
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"We came in as a group, and now, we left as a group," guard Joe Coppens '08 said.
But while the seniors contributed heavily, it was the Judges' stifling defense, along with underclassman forward Terrell Hollins' '10 strong inside play that propelled the Judges to a 58-44 win over the Violets. The 44 points were a season-low for NYU, who shot just 33 percent from the field in the loss.
Brandeis ended the year 20-5 overall and 10-4 in the University Athletic Association, improving both of those records by one game over last year's regular-season performance despite playing nearly all season without injured star forward Steve DeLuca '08. The?Judges will return to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year and will host Lasell College Friday at 8 p.m.
"We play against top competition," Hollins said. "There are no nights off … Every game is close. We know how to play games down the stretch."
After the Judges' six seniors-Saucier, DeLuca, starting guards Coppens and Kwame Graves-Fulgham '08, starting center Steve Hill '08 and reserve guard Florian Rexhepi '08-were honored as part of the Senior Day festivities, the two teams played an even first half. The Judges took the lead for good at the 14 minute, 50 second mark, but their 27-21 halftime lead was their biggest in the first half.
However, the Judges opened things up early in the second half. Hollins scored Brandeis' first eight points of the half, and he gave the Judges their first double-digit lead when he tore a rebound away from two Violet players and scored a layup to make the score 42-31 with 11:06 remaining.
"[Coach Brian Meehan] emphasized getting the ball inside and working from the inside out," Graves-Fulgham said. "It opened up some shots and some lanes for people to drive."
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