George Seals Endicott Win in Closing Seconds
Nov. 30, 2005
BEVERLY, MA - It took everything Endicott had but in the end it was well worth the effort. The Gulls scored the knockout punch in the form of a Matt George (Dover, NH/Dover) lay up with 13 seconds remaining to give Endicott a 53-52 victory over Bates College Wednesday night at Macdonald Gymnasium.
Senior guard Zach Ellis (Westford, MA/Westford Academy) found George cutting at the baseline and delivered a perfect bounce pass to the senior who flushed the attempt while getting fouled. With the win Endicott evened its record at 2-2 while Bates fell to 3-2.
Moments before the George heroics, Bobcat junior guard Zak Ray (Bangor, ME/Bangor) canned a three-pointer to tie the game and converted the subsequent foul shot for a 53-52 Bates advantage with 16 seconds remaining in regulation. However, the lead would be short-lived as the Gulls pushed the ball into upcourt and Ellis found George cutting to the hole for and-one attempt with 13 ticks on the clock. George missed the foul shot but Endicott was able to hold on for the win.
George led the Gulls with 12 points to go along with five boards and two blocks while Ellis added eight points, two assists, three rebounds and a steal in 32 minutes of action. Mike Lambert (Rochester, NH/Spaulding) and Todd Burton (Lynn, MA/St. Mary's) each chipped in six points. Burton also had six rebounds and two steals while freshman Joey Burgos (Lawrence, MA/Lawrence) and junior Mike Sullivan (Marshfield, MA/Marshfield) both had five points.
The Bobcats' bigmen Rob Stockwell (Temple, NH/New Hampton Prep), Sam Taylor (Redwood City, CA/Crystal Springs Upland) and Matt Chudomel (Wellfleet, MA/Nauset) wreaked havoc in the paint. Stockwell led all scorers with 13 points and nine boards while Taylor notched six points and Chudomel added seven points, five rebounds and four blocks. Pat Halloran Plymouth, NH/Phillips Exeter) dumped in nine points in the loss.
Endicott will compete in the Wesleyan College Tournament over the weekend while Bates will look to rebound Friday night when it hosts UMaine-Fort Kent.