Box Score
MADISON, Wis. - The Eagles used a 14-2 run midway through the first half to break an 11-11 tie and eventually cruise to an 85-76 win over the College of New Jersey in the consolation championship of the 2009 Woodrow S.W. Sponaugle New Year's Tournament held at the Mayser Center on the campus of Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa.
One night after they shot a measly 36.5 percent from the field in a 6-point loss to Susquehanna, Edgewood College was able to bounce back and turn things around to defeat TCNJ on Saturday night. The Eagles displayed an impressive shooting performance by going 28-of-51 (54.9 percent) from the field and 6-of-13 from the three-point arc while holding the Lions to just 40 percent from the field.
Edgewood College put three players in double figures led by Kent Faurote's 21 points off the bench. In fact, the Eagles' bench outscored the Lions' bench 44-17 for the game. Faurote was 6-of-7 from the field and 3-of-3 from three-point range while going 6-of-9 from the free throw line in 27 minutes of action.
The freshman guard scored 13 of his 21 points in the first half and sunk all three three-point baskets in the opening period as well. It was Faurote that helped key the 14-2 run in the first as he scored the game tying bucket to make the score 11-11 and then the subsequent three-pointer to give the Eagles the lead which they would hold for the remainder of the game.
Edgewood College (4-7) stretched its first half lead to 18 points before settling for a 39-28 advantage heading into halftime. The Eagles kept the foot on the gas in the second half as well, increasing their lead to 19 less than 10 minutes into the second frame. The lead would remain double-digits for the majority of the contest as they Eagles won for just the first time in their last three games.
Ben Wisniewski scored 19 points on 5-of-10 shooting and 2-of-5 from long range. Derek Nkemnji added 12 points in 24 minutes off the bench to go along with three assists. The team's lone senior, Jon Ciche, reached a milestone in the win when he recorded three blocks in the second half to give him exactly 200 for his career. Ciche is already Edgewood College's career blocks leader and continues to extend the mark beyond the reach of anyone in the near future.
Eric Blackmon-Hayes poured in a game-high 22 points for TCNJ (4-6) to lead three Lions in double figures. William Jett and Jay Frank scored 16 and 12 points, respectively, in the loss. The Lions were just 5-of-21 from three-point range, but 11-of-11 from the free throw line. TCNJ out-rebounded the Eagles 40-32 in the game and pulled in 15 offensive rebounds in the process opposed to just five for Edgewood College.
The Eagles will return home to the Todd Wehr Edgedome for their next contest and face Lakeland College on Jan. 7, at 7:00 p.m.
