Springfield Posts 83-73 Win Over Dean

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Freshman guard Trey Witter (Unionville, Conn.) scored 16 points and junior guard Andy McNulty (West Springfield, Mass.) and freshman guard Jake Ross (Northampton, Mass.) added 15 points apiece to lead the Springfield College men’s basketball team to an 83-73 victory over Dean College in the semifinals of The Cave Classic hosted by Bridgewater State University on Friday evening at the Tinsley Center.

The Pride improve to 2-0 with the win and advance to the tournament title game on Saturday afternoon at three against host Bridgewater State. The Bulldogs (3-2) will compete in the consolation game on Saturday at one versus Becker College.

Dean junior guard Aziz Gilliam (Newark, N.J.) led all scorers with 22 points, while sophomore guard Kendall Hamilton (Lakeville, Mass.) checked in with 18 points. Freshman forward Naquwan Solomon (Elliott, S.C.) recorded a double-double with ten points and ten rebounds.

Springfield jumped out to a 19-5 lead 6 ½ minutes into the game as the Pride converted on eight of their first ten shot attempts.

Dean chipped away the rest of the half and pulled to within two (40-38) on a Solomon layup with just 11 seconds remaining. Freshman forward Anthony Reynolds (Springfield, Mass.) made one of two free throws to close out the half for the Pride and account for the halftime score of 41-38.

Down three (45-42) in the opening minutes of the second half, the Bulldogs used a 10-2 run, highlighted by a pair of Hamilton three-pointers, to jump on top, 52-47. Another Hamilton trifecta at the 11:59 mark extended the Bulldogs’ advantage to 62-55.

Springfield, however, responded with a 13-0 run over the next four minutes to reclaim control of the game. Witter and freshman forward Heath Post (Cheshire, Conn.) tallied five points apiece during the spurt. The lead would balloon to as many as 13 points before the Pride settled for the 83-73 victory.

Post also finished in double-figure scoring for Springfield as he notched ten points.

The Pride shot 44% (28-64) for the game, including 10-for-29 (35%) from behind the arc, and went 17-for-26 (65%) from the free throw line.

The Bulldogs connected on just 39% (25-65) of their field goal attempts, but did knock down 9 of 20 (45%) three-point attempts. Dean connected on 14 of 17 (82%) free throws.