Courtland Bluford (21 points) keys second-half comeback as Greyhound men's basketball defeats Saint Anselm, 88-78

January 31, 2009

Assumption 88, Saint Anselm 78

MANCHESTER, NH --- Junior guard COURTLAND BLUFORD (Ft. Washington, MD/St. Vincent Pallotti) scored 21 points including 17 in the second half as Assumption College rallied to defeat Saint Anselm College, 88-78, in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball action SATURDAY in the Stoutenburgh Gymnasium.

The victory improves the Greyhounds overall record to 14-6 and 12-4 in the conference standings. Saint Anselm is now 12-8 overall and 7-8 in the conference. UMass Lowell (12-3) and Bentley (12-3) are tied for first place with the Greyhounds just a half game behind. Stonehill (11-4) and Merrimack (11-4) are right behind the Hounds in a fantastic five-team race.

Senior forward/captain PATRICK SHEA (Salem, MA/Salem) scored 18 points with three steals, sophmore forward MIKE BALDARELLI (Sutton, MA/Holy Name) added a double-double 15 points, 11 rebounds and postgraduate forward GREG TWOMEY (Groton, MA/Groton-Dunstable) added 15 points in support roles for the Gryehounds.

Sophomore guard THOMAS BAUDINET (Watertown, CT/Taft School) poured in 28 points with four three-pointers to lead the Hawks, while junior guard GREG VETRANO (Andover, MA/Andover) added 21 points with three three-pointers.

Saint Anselm led 43-35 at the half shooting a torrid .640 from the floor (16-for-25) however the second half was another story as the Greyhounds' defense limited the Hawks to .371 (13-for-35). Bluford (9-for-10) and Shea (7-for-7) were accurate at the free throw line down-the-stretch.

Baudinet started quickly with seven points in the first 2:47 as the Hawks sped to a 10-2 advantage. However a layin by freshman guard KEVIN DONAHUE (Pawcatuck, CT/Stonington) tied the game at 18-18 with 10:39 remaining in the period.

Baudinet hit a jumper with 6:33 left to ignite a 10-0 run and finished with two free throws that put the Hawks in command 34-25. Saint Anselm led by 12, 43-31 with 1:51 left however Shea scored on an inside move and Donahue drilled a wing jumper to cut the gap to eight at the break.

The Greyhounds finally tied the game at 51-51 as Bluford layin capped a 16-7 run to start the second half.

The Hawks would surge a final time to move to a 62-57 advantage as Vetrano made a corner three-pointer with 9:02 remaining.

Then it was the Greyhounds turn to surge as a 16-2 run put them in command, 73-64, with 3:53 left. Bluford scored two layins, a jumper and dunk in the streak to spark his team.

The Greyhounds are next in action MONDAY when they travel to St. Thomas Aquinas College for a makeup game at 7 p.m.

Click here for ASSUMPTION-SAINT ANSELM box score