Gibbs' Game-Winning Shot Lifts SC Over Wheaton, 71-69; Pizzo Sets New Career Assist Record
Box Score/Play-by-PlaySPRINGFIELD, Mass. – February 10, 2007 -- Junior Jamaal Gibbs (Norwalk, Conn.) capped a 21-point day by banking in a game-winning jumper with 3.3 seconds remaining to lift the Springfield College men’s basketball team to a 71-69 victory over Wheaton College in New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action on Saturday at Wheaton’s Emerson Gymnasium in Norton, Mass.
The Lyons fell to 10-12 overall and 3-8 in the league, while the Pride is 11-12 and 6-4. As a result of this win combined with other results of the day, Springfield has clinched a first-round home game in the NEWMAC post-season tournament, which begins Wednesday, February 21 (time still to be established). Springfield can finish no worse than fourth in regular-season standings. The second, third, and fourth-place NEWMAC teams will all play first-round home games.
Gibbs' hoop negated a late rally by the Lyons, as junior Jake Otto (Glastonbury, Conn.) canned a three-pointer to bring Wheaton within 69-66 with 18 seconds left, and classmate Brent DiGiovanna (Hanover, Mass.) followed a pair of missed Springfield free throws with a long three to tie the game with 8.8 ticks to go. However, Gibbs helped the visitors quickly go the length of the court before dropping in his shot.
Springfield senior guard Anthony Pizzo (Clifton Park, N.Y.) established a Springfield College career assist mark during the game. Pizzo needed three assists coming into the contest to break Ramses Kelly’s mark of 508, set from 1987 through 1991. Pizzo finished with three and now has 509.
Wheaton ran out to a 13-3 lead at 14:47 of the first half by hitting five of its first seven shots, including three of four from beyond the arc, as DiGiovanna, junior Eric Johnston (South Windsor, Conn.) and sophomore Pat Youreneff (Belle Mead, N.J.) each connected from deep. Gibbs took over from there, scoring 11 straight Pride points during a 2:59 stretch to bring the visitors within 17-15 at 11:19. Gibbs later hit a three-pointer to bring Springfield within 23-22, and freshman Ryan Blackmon (Stamford, Conn.) put the Pride on top for the first time at 24-23 with a pair of freebies with 7:34 to go.
Springfield twice pushed its lead out to five, last when junior Gregg Daly (Farmington, Conn.) canned a three to make it 33-28, but Wheaton senior Brian Zukowski (Dracut, Mass.) dished off on a Johnston three-pointer, hit a jumper and then tied the game at 37 with a pair of free throws with 18 seconds left in the half. However, sophomore John Strawson (Torrington, Conn.) hit a lay-up high off the glass with three ticks to go and gave Springfield a 39-37 edge at the break. Wheaton shot 56.0 percent in the period, going 5-of-12 from three-point range. The Pride held an 18-10 rebounding edge and shot 50.0 percent, led by Gibbs' 14 points.
Zukowski's leaner in the lane 15 seconds into the second half knotted the game before he dished off to Youreneff, who hit a three to give Wheaton a 42-39 lead. DiGiovanna later scored six straight points for the Blue and White as the Lyons twice went back up by 10, last when Youreneff drove and dished to freshman Ben Stehle (Newton, Mass.), whose lay-in made it 54-44 at 11:52.
However, Blackmon drained a three at 11:11 to bring Springfield within 54-49, and he later scored five straight points before dishing off as Gibbs connected from deep to tie the game at 59 with 5:41 to go. Zukowski put the Lyons back on top 19 seconds later before DiGiovanna hit a baseline jumper to make it 63-59, but the Pride's Pizzo hit a three-pointer before driving for a go-ahead lay-up at 2:29. Springfield hit three of four free throw attempts to go up by six and set up the exciting finish.
DiGiovanna led the Lyons with 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including 2-of-3 from beyond the arc, while Zukowski added 13 points and six assists. Youreneff contributed career highs of eight points and five assists, including a pair of three-pointers. Johnston posted eight points, while Otto had seven points, five rebounds and four assists. The Lyons finished shooting 56.3 percent from the floor, including 9-of-20 from deep.
Gibbs' 21 points came on 9-of-16 shooting, and he added six rebounds and four assists. Blackmon had 17 points and five assists, while Strawson added 12 points.
Springfield will play at Clark in another NEWMAC encounter Wednesday (Feb. 14) at 7:30 p.m.
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Head Coach Charlie Brock
Charlie Brock in 2008-09 will enter his 11th season as the head coach at Springfield College. Brock’s achievements as a coach are certainly impressive, as he has taken three schools to the NCAA Division III Tournament and has an overall, 28-year record of 379-350 for a winning percentage of .519. Read more.