Spring Break
MBBALL: Judges just miss the Final Four
by Jeffrey Pickette
Senior writer
Sports | 3/18/08
Posted online at 2:35 AM EST on 3/18/08
"It was like a wave-the first [dunk] sort of got us started in the second half. When the second one happened and then when the third one happened, all of a sudden our guys truly believed [we could win]," Amherst coach Dave Hixon told reporters last Saturday.
Brandeis cut the deficit to 56-49 with 3:33 left on two free throws from Coppens, but was not able to inch any closer.
The Judges hit just 22 of their 72 field goal attempts, including just five of their 23 three-pointers. Amherst's defense disrupted Brandeis' rhythm throughout the game, blocking 12 shots and altering several others.
In the post-game press conference, Hixon suggested the Judges were tired after their hard-fought 74-63 win over Plattsburgh State in the Round of 16 the night before. Hill, however, disagreed.
"You're either ready to play or you're not, and you can't use something like being fatigued as an excuse," he said. "It was an opportunity against one of our top rivals to go to the Final Four. If your legs are a little tired, you've got to find a way to get up on adrenaline or something else."
In last Friday's win over Plattsburgh State, guard Andre Roberson '10 scored 18 of his 20 points in the first half to lead Brandeis to a 39-30 halftime edge. But Brandeis had a similar second-half offensive struggle, allowing Plattsburgh State to tie the score at 56 with 4:46 remaining on senior forward Travis Gorham's layup.
Brandeis answered on the next possession when guard Kevin Olson '09 stepped back and drained a three-pointer, giving the Judges a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
"The whole game I was trying to look for an open shot. Finally I got a good look coming off a ball screen and went underneath it and just wanted to take [the shot] when it was open. Thankfully it went down for me," Olson told reporters after the game.
Two possessions later, Coppens took a pass from Graves-Fulgham, faked and hit a three-pointer of his own from the right corner, increasing the lead to 64-58 and silencing the Plattsburgh State crowd.
Brandeis cut the deficit to 56-49 with 3:33 left on two free throws from Coppens, but was not able to inch any closer.
The Judges hit just 22 of their 72 field goal attempts, including just five of their 23 three-pointers. Amherst's defense disrupted Brandeis' rhythm throughout the game, blocking 12 shots and altering several others.
In the post-game press conference, Hixon suggested the Judges were tired after their hard-fought 74-63 win over Plattsburgh State in the Round of 16 the night before. Hill, however, disagreed.
"You're either ready to play or you're not, and you can't use something like being fatigued as an excuse," he said. "It was an opportunity against one of our top rivals to go to the Final Four. If your legs are a little tired, you've got to find a way to get up on adrenaline or something else."
In last Friday's win over Plattsburgh State, guard Andre Roberson '10 scored 18 of his 20 points in the first half to lead Brandeis to a 39-30 halftime edge. But Brandeis had a similar second-half offensive struggle, allowing Plattsburgh State to tie the score at 56 with 4:46 remaining on senior forward Travis Gorham's layup.
Brandeis answered on the next possession when guard Kevin Olson '09 stepped back and drained a three-pointer, giving the Judges a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
"The whole game I was trying to look for an open shot. Finally I got a good look coming off a ball screen and went underneath it and just wanted to take [the shot] when it was open. Thankfully it went down for me," Olson told reporters after the game.
Two possessions later, Coppens took a pass from Graves-Fulgham, faked and hit a three-pointer of his own from the right corner, increasing the lead to 64-58 and silencing the Plattsburgh State crowd.
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