Dean Posts 83-81 Win Over Becker in Cave Classic Consolation Game

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Freshman forward Naquwan Solomon (Elliot, S.C.) recorded a double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds and scored the game-winning basket with 7/10 of a second remaining to lift the Dean College men’s basketball team to a dramatic 83-81 victory over Becker College in the consolation game of The Cave Classic hosted by Bridgewater State University on Saturday afternoon at the Tinsley Center.

Dean improves to 4-2 on the season, while Becker falls to 1-2.

Solomon, who also tallied four assists, two blocked shots and a steal, garnered All-Tournament honors for the Bulldogs. Sophomore guard Dayvon Russell (Naugatuck, Conn.) had a terrific game for Dean as well with 22 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and four steals. Junior guard Aziz Gilliam (Newark, N.J.) added 13 points, six rebounds and a pair assists to go along with a steal.

Sophomore guard Kareem Davis (Lowell, Mass.) was named to the All-Tournament Team for Becker. Davis poured in a game-high 24 points and pulled down five rebounds. Senior guard Kyle Credle (Queens, N.Y.) contributed 20 points five rebounds, four assists and two steals for the Hawks, while junior forward Samuel Durodola (Rosedale, N.Y.) checked in with 11 points and nine boards. Senior guard Khairi Mosley (Elizabeth, N.J.) rounded out the double-digit scorers with ten points.

Down three late in the game, freshman guard Steve Tankou (Orlando, Fla.) tied the game at 71-71 with a three-pointer. A Credle jumper and two free throws put the Hawks back on top 75-71.

Tankou made one of two free throws to cut the deficit to 75-72, but Credle knocked down another three to extend the Hawks’ lead to 78-72 with 2:25 remaining.

Gilliam answered with a layup, and, following a turnover, Russell knocked down a pair of free throws to make it a two-point game (78-76) with 1:45 left to play. Two Becker turnovers sandwiched around a Dean missed layup kept the game at 78-76 as the clock ticked under a minute.

Solomon then tied the game with a layup off an offensive rebound with 52 seconds showing on the scoreboard.

Freshman forward Donzell Cunningham (Linden, N.J.) put the Hawks back on top with a layup, but sophomore guard Randolf Thurman (Swampscott, Mass.) drained a clutch three-pointer with just 18 seconds remaining to put the Bulldogs ahead, 81-80.

Davis hit the front end of a two-shot foul to tie the score, but missed the second. Solomon then drove to the hoop for the game-winning basket.

Dean shot 47% (31-66) for the game, including 6-for-18 (33%) from behind the arc. The Bulldogs also went 15-for-19 (79%) from the free throw line.

Becker connected on 42% (25-60) of its field goal attempts and knocked down 9 of 26 (35%) three-pointers. The Hawks converted 22 of 28 (79%) free throw attempts.