NORTON, Mass. — Sophomore guard
Tristan Herry (East Taunton, Mass.) poured in a career-high 26 points as one of four Wheaton College (Mass.) men's basketball players to record personal-scoring highs on the night in an 85-71 victory over visiting Roger Williams University this evening at Emerson Gymnasium on the Wheaton campus in Norton, Mass.
The Lyons improve to 3-2 on the season, while the Hawks fall to 0-4.
Wheaton shot a season-best 52.5% (31-59) from the floor, including a staggering 58.8% (10-17) from three-point range and dominated the glass by a count of 36-21.
Roger Williams also shot well with a 49.2% (31-63) success rate, but only made three trips to the free throw line – missing every shot, while the Lyons were 13-15 (86.7%) from the charity stripe. Wheaton has shot 82% or better in each of its last three games from the free throw line.
Both teams combined for just 17 turnovers, including just seven by the Hawks.
Herry was 8-12 from the floor, including a perfect 4-4 from long range and added five rebounds, a steal and a career-high four assists for the Lyons. Sophomore guard Sal Pedevillano (Parsippany, N.J.) netted a personal-high 16 points on 6-10 shooting and was 4-6 from three-point territory to go with three boards and an assist, while junior forward Khaled Thaher (Amman, Jordan) scored a career-best 15 points and added eight rebounds, two assists and a block. Senior guard Jaden Keliher (Amesbury, Mass.) contributed with a career-high 11 points and was 4-4 from the line in addition to pulling down three rebounds and handing out three assists.
Senior guard Mac Annus (Belmont, Mass.) led the Hawks with 19 points on 9-13 from the field and added three rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block and first year guard Finn Miller (Stamford, Conn.) scored 14 points on 6-10 shooting to go with three boards, two steals and an assist. Sophomore guard Ty Higgins (New Marlborough, Mass.) chipped in with 13 points, four rebounds and an assist, while graduate student guard John Ah Kao (Dumont, N.J.) dropped in 10 points, grabbed four rebounds, dished for three assists and came up with a steal.
Annus capped a 7-2 run with a three-pointer to pull Roger Williams even at 59-59 with 9:16 to play in the second half, before a 9-2 stretch punctuated by a Herry triple gave Wheaton a 68-61 advantage with 6:34 showing in the second half.
Annus hit a turnaround jumper in the paint to cut the deficit to 71-66 for the Hawks at the 5:36 mark, but the Lyons roared back with eight straight points as part of a 14-5 blitz, fueled by a pair of three-balls from Pedevillano and five points from Keliher, to give the home team the winning margin at 85-71.
Roger Williams got out to a 7-2 lead early in the first half after junior forward Will MacDonald (York, Maine) drilled a three-pointer with 17:49 to go in the stanza. Wheaton matched with a 7-2 run of its own to knot the score at 9-9 with 13:48 to play in the session.
Higgins converted a driving layup to cap six unanswered points and give the visitors a 15-9 cushion with 11:20 to play in the half. The Hawks maintained a 23-17 lead following a MacDonald jump shot from outside the paint at the 7:21 mark.
Higgins kept Roger Williams in front with trifecta coming with 4:06 to go in the period for a 30-26 lead, but junior forward Duncan Bubar (Newton, Mass.) scored the next five points to give the Lyons their first lead of the night at 31-30 with 3:14 showing on the first half clock. The Hawks responded with five points of their own to take a 35-31 lead with 2:09 remaining in the opening half.
Herry buried a three-pointer with 35 ticks left in the half to give Wheaton a 38-37 halftime lead to cap a 7-2 burst before the end of the half. The Lyons never trailed for the rest of the contest.
Annus knocked down a jumper outside the paint to pull Roger Williams even at 45-45 with 16:53 to go in the game for one of four second-half ties. Wheaton reeled off five unanswered points to take a 50-45 margin at 15:47 and maintained a 57-52 lead after a Keliher layup with 12:18 remaining in the game.
The Lyons return to action on Tuesday, November 28 when they host Lasell University at 7:00 p.m. in Emerson Gymnasium, while the Hawks host Clark University on November 26 at 2:00 p.m.
