Greyhounds defeat Saint Anselm men's basketball, 73-71, in Northeast-10 Conference action with late charge

January 26, 2008

ASSUMPTION 73, SAINT ANSELM 71

GOFFSTOWN, NH --- Assumption College outscored Saint Anselm College, 11-5, over the last 2:48 en route to a hard-earned 73-71 Northeast 10 Conference men's basketball victory here SATURDAY at the Stoutenburgh Gymnasium.

Assumption, which has won nine of its last 11 games, is now 16-5 overall and 10-4 in the Northeast-10 Conference, in sole possession of third-place. Saint Anselm falls to 8-10 and 6-8. The Greyhounds are the most improved team in the region following an 11-17 (9-13 conference) season-record in 2006-07.

The Greyhounds are now 1,006-821 since the program's inception as the winningest New England Division II program of all time. Saint Michael's College, which won its 1,000th game earlier in the season, is now 1,004-934.

Saint Anselm freshman guard THOMAS BAUDINET (Waterown, CT/Taft) hit a top-of-the-circle three-pointer to put the Hawks in front, 66-62, with 2:48 remaining.

Hounds senior forward MIKE FOTI (Franklin, MA/Franklin) buried a three-pointer on the next trip down-the-floor off an offensive rebound and assist from junior guard/forward PATRICK SHEA (Salem, MA/Salem). A layup by senior forward/captain GREG TWOMEY (Groton, MA/Groton-Dunstable) following a steal by senior forward COREY DIETHORN (Pittsburgh, MA/Sewickley) put the Greyhounds in front to stay at 67-66.

Sophomore guard COURTLAND BLUFORD (Fort Washington, MD/Saint Vincent Pallotti) converted a steal and coast-to-coast drive for a layin and a three-point margin before Baudinet made both ends of a two-shot foul opportunity again cutting the margin to one at 69-68.

The Greyhounds' junior guard MITCH BAJEMA (Whitinsville, MA/Whitinsville Christian) made both ends of a two-shot foul with 12 seconds left and Diethorn made two more with three second left to put it away. Hawks' senior guard CHRIS VETRANO (Andover, MA/Andover) hit a near halfcourt bomb for a three-pointer with one second left to account for the final.

Baudinet scored 12 points in the first half leading the Hawks to a 41-30 advantage. The Hawks shot a gaudy .56 from the floor (17-for-30). An 11-2 mini-spurt by the Hawks moved them from a two-point advantage, 22-20, to a 33-22 lead with 4:50 remaining in the half and Baudinet hit a pair of three-pointers in the run.

The Hounds opened the second half with a 24-11 run with Diethorn contributing six points and Bajema a closing three-pointer as they moved to a 54-52 lead with 9:43 left. Saint Anselm would rally back in front by four, 66-62, with 2:48 left.

The Greyhounds finished with four double-figure scorers led by Bluford (16 points), Foti (15 points), Diethorn (13 points) and Twomey (13 points). Shea finished with a team-high 11 rebounds and six assists.

Baudinet led the Hawks with 21 points, while freshman forward JOHN TELLO (Ridgefield Park, NJ/Ridgefield Park) (14 points) and Vetrano (11 points) played well in support roles.

The Greyhounds host Northeast-10 Conference rival American International College WEDNESDAY at the Laska Gym at 7:30 p.m.

GREYHOUNDS NOTES: senior forward COREY DIETHORN (Pittsburgh, PA/Sewickley Academy) now has 961 career points and 609 career rebounds in 99 games . . . senior forward/captain GREG TWOMEY (Groton, MA/Groton Dunstable) has 901 career points in 77 games . . .

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