Endicott Knocks Off Defending National Champion No. 7 Babson, 90-80

BABSON PARK, Mass. — Behind a career-high 45 points from Keith Brown (Pelham, N.H.), the Endicott men's basketball team defeated the defending NCAA Division III national champions and No. 7 nationally ranked Babson Beavers, 90-80, in the championship game of the Babson Invitational on Sunday afternoon at Staake Gymnasium. 

Brown somehow outdid himself again for the second game in a row as the sophomore guard reset his career-high for points versus Babson shooting 15-for-25 from the floor, 10-of-15 from beyond the arc and a perfect 5-for-5 at the free throw line. Meanwhile, in yesterday's 75-70 win over Regis, Brown poured in a then career-high 38 points on 13-for-26 shooting from the field (10-19 3PT, 2-2 FT).

Alongside Brown's stellar game, Endicott also received a career-high 17 points from Matt McDevitt (Cumberland, Maine) and a career-high 11 points from Jordan Pettway (Bridgeport, Conn.) in the win.

Endicott produced a 53-37 lead at the half thanks in large part to a 14-for-23 showing (60.9%) from beyond the arc, and 36 combined points via Brown (22) and McDevitt (14).

Babson did work its way back into the game, however, with a 25-6 run over the first seven and a half minutes of the second half. Bradley Jacks (For Washington, Md.) and Nick Comenale (New York, N.Y.) combined for 16 points, while senior Tim Hasbargen (Munich, Germany) drained a pair of three-pointers, and Graham Dolan (Williamsville, N.Y.) canned a three from the right wing following a Jacks' offensive rebound to give the Green and White a 62-59 lead with 12:28 remaining.

The Beavers' edge was short lived though, as Brown took over, scoring 11 straight points to give the Gulls a 78-71 on a three-pointer with 4:44 to go. Babson got as close as six on a pair of free throws by Jacks with 4:08 left, but a hoop by Pettway and a four-point play by Brown extended the Endicott lead back to 85-73 less than a minute later, and the Gulls never looked back.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Based on available data, Endicott had never beaten a nationally ranked opponent positioned No. 7 or higher until today.
• The previous program record was No. 16 Salisbury (71-68) in the first round of last year's NCAA Tournament.
• Today's win also was the first for Endicott against Babson in program history (1-3).
• Endicott outscored Babson in the paint, 24-18.
• The Gulls' largest lead was 18 with 19:25 remaining in the second half.
• Endicott shot 48.7% from beyond the arc (19-for-39). The Gulls' 19 made three pointers is tied for second all-time (program record 20 versus Roger Williams on 2/11/17)
• Brown tied his own record for three-pointers made for the second consecutive game.
• Brown was named the Babson Invitational Tournament MVP.
• Nick Thibeault (Gorham, Maine) earned All-Tournament Team honors.
• Brown now possesses two out of the top three single-game points records in program history.
• Kamahl Walker '17 (Worcester, Mass.) owns the record with his 47 points against Keene State on 11/15/15.

FOR THE FOES

• Jacks finished with a team-high 28 points.
• Comenale contributed 19, while Dolan and Brandon Johnson (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) each had 11.
• Chris Lowry (Union, Conn.) paced all student-athletes with a game-high 10 assists.

WHAT'S NEXT

Endicott (2-0) hosts No. 8 Middlebury on Sunday, November 26 at 2 PM. No. 7 Babson (2-1) travels to Becker on Tuesday, November 21 at 2 PM. 

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(Photo Credit - David Le '10)