BEVERLY, Mass.—Endicott's strong second half kept Gordon Men's Basketball from making a late comeback in an 80-73 game at the MacDonald Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon. The Gulls took the season series with the Fighting Scots and clinched a home game in the Commonwealth Coast Conference playoffs with the victory.
Gordon started the game fast right out of the chute, making three of their first four shots from the floor, including a pair of threes by
Eric Demers (W. Wareham, Mass.) and
Jaren Yang (San Francisco, Calif.). After Gordon jumped out to an 8-2 lead in just two minute of gameplay, the Gulls scored the next 10 points by nailing a pair of triples of their own.
The Gulls held a slight advantage over the Scots until the midway point of the period when freshman Nick Thibeault (Gorham, Maine) scored eight quick points off the bench to open the Endicott lead to eight at 27-19.
Gordon battled all the way back to tie the game at 30 apiece when
Noah Szilagyi (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) put in his own missed layup with 4:49 to go in the half. The Fighting Scots took their second lead of the half just a few minutes later when
Garrisson Duvivier (Brockton, Mass.) scored twice in a matter of seconds. The freshman beat his man for the easy lay in and stole the next pass at half court for the easy fast-break bucket.
However, Endicott held Gordon scoreless over the final two minutes and capped off the half with 5-0 run, including a second-chance three by Drew Sawyer (Norwalk, Conn.).
The first five minutes of the second half went without much momentum either way as both teams matched each offensive end. The closest Gordon would get during that span would be three after a Duvivier three-point play with 17:12 to go.
After an averaging shooting performance from deep in the first half, Gordon could not sink one in the second. The Fighting Scots missed each of their first seven attempts from deep and Endicott began to pull away with multiple double-digit advantages.
Endicott held a 10-point lead with two minutes to go when back-to-back quick buckets brought the Scots back within two possessions. The Gulls were able to make enough free throws down the stretch and never let Gordon get closer than six points in the final few moments.
For the Foes- All Endicott starters finished with at least eight points, four of which found themselves in double figures.
- Kamahl Walker (Worcester, Mass.) led the Gulls with 17 points, six rebounds and four assists.
- Daquan Sampson (Germantown, Md.) had a quiet 11 points and 10 boards in just 20 minutes of gameplay.
- Chris Lipscomb (W. Springfield, Mass.) also had a double-double with 11 and 10, while knocking down four key free throws late.
- Max Motroni (W. Warwick, R.I.) also had 10.
For the Scots- Duvivier continued his second-half tear through the conference schedule with 23 points and 10 rebounds. The freshman also had two assists, two blocks and a steal.
- Sam Johnson (Chatham, Mass.) also had a solid double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, as well as a team-high three deflections.
- Demers rebounded nicely from earlier in the week with 19 points and three of Gordon's five triples.
- Richie Armand (Hempstead, N.Y.) had four assists off the bench to lead the team.
Quick Stats- Endicott swept Gordon for the first time since the 2011-12 season. Gordon had won five straight meetings coming into the year. The Gulls lead the all-time series 19-17.
- The Gulls bench ended up as the difference, outscoring Gordon 23-9 for the game. Szilagyi was the only Scot to put points on the board as a sub.
- Gordon has had a positive rebounding margin in 20 of 23 games this season. They were sixth in Division 3 heading into Saturday.
- Johnson and Duvivier both move into the CCC lead in double-doubles with 13 on the season. That mark puts them 12th in Division 3 this season.
