Endicott Takes Tufts Tournament Consolation Game, 73-63
Nov. 18, 2006
MEDFORD, MA - Five different Gulls scored in double-figures as the Endicott College men's basketball team took a 73-63 victory over Lasell College in the consolation game of the Tufts Tip-Off Tournament on Saturday afternoon at Cousens Gymnasium. Senior co-captain Mike Sullivan (Marshfield, MA, Marshfield) led the Gulls with 15 points and nine rebounds.
Lasell College, which pushed 12th ranked Tufts University to the brink before losing 85-80 in the first round on Friday night, was led by 21 points and 12 rebounds from sophomore Jose Guitian (Miami, FL). The Gulls improved to 1-1, while the Lasers fell to 0-2.
Endicott grabbed the lead early and did not let go. The last Lasell lead was at 5-4 with 16:08 to play in the first half. Endicott's Kevin McGuire (New City, NY/Albertus Magnus) hit a three-pointer to give the Gulls a 7-5 lead. They held a slim margin until a 13-2 stretch gave them a 30-18 advantage with 4:35 left in the half. Nemanja Marinkovic (Belgrade, Serbia) and Sullivan each scored four points during the run.
The Endicott lead climbed to 15 points (37-22) at the two-minute mark, but Lasell was able to close to within eight points at the half (37-29). They scored the final seven points, including five by sophomore Brad Caravoulias (Dracut, MA). Sophomore Joey Burgos (Lawrence, MA/Lawrence) had 10 points and five rebounds at the break for Endicott, while Guitian put up seven points and pulled down six rebounds in nine minutes of action for the Lasers.
Lasell nearly overcame their first half deficit in the second half. They got to within two points at 45-43 following a lay-up by sophomore Junior Sainval (Miami, FL) at 12:56. Endicott, however, scored the next 14 points to lead 59-43 at the 10-minute mark. Two three-pointers by sophomore Ross Stewart (Palm Harbor, FL/East Lake High School) got the run started.
Showing no quit, the Lasers battled back again and were within five as the clock wound down under four minutes. A lay-up by Guitian capped a 15-4 Lasell surge. A three by Guitian had the margin at six points, 67-61 Endicott with 2:50 to play, but the Gulls were able to stay in front safely by hitting free throws down the stretch.
Marinkovic finished the day with 14 points and six rebounds, and finished the tournament 16 for 17 at the free throw line (.941). Burgos had 12 points, seven rebounds and two assists against Lasell. Endicott, which turned the ball over 30 times in their first-round loss to Rhode Island College, took better care of the ball with a more respectable 19 today.
Sanival (15 points, three steals), Caravoulias (10 points, three steals) and junior Jaime Crawford (Coral Springs, FL) with nine points, four rebounds and three steals were Laser leaders. The Lasers shot just 37.3 percent (25/67) after topping 50 percent while nearly upsetting Tufts on Friday. They were only 4 of 22 from three-point land (18.2 percent).
Sullivan and Guitian were both named to the All-Tournament team.
-Courtesy of Tufts University Sports Information-