Gulls rout Lynx in season-opener
Nov. 15, 2008
BEVERLY, Mass. - Endicott College got a game-high 13 points from junior Graham Whitelaw (Kennebunk, Maine) as the Gulls defeated Lesley University, 71-40, in the second game of the DIME Magazine Tip-Off Invitational on Saturday night in Beverly, Mass. Wentworth edged the University of Southern Maine, 72-59, in the evening's first contest.
The Gulls used a late first half surge to create distance between visiting Lesley, turning a 22-17 advantage into a 30-19 lead at the break. With the momentum on its side, Endicott used a 10-2 run to open the second half, capped off by a three-pointer from Bobby Montrond (Brockton, Mass.) in the near corner. Montrond had a well-rounded evening, posting 11 points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals in the win.
Chris Galbraith (Lowell, Mass.) put up 11 points and grabbed four rebounds for the Gulls, while sophomore Justin Martin (Cromwell, Conn.) had eight boards, four points and three blocks. Freshman Aaron Karkow (Uncasville, Conn.) looked strong his first 11 collegiate minutes, notching six points, three rebounds and a block in the winning effort.
Lesley University was paced by Jon Cruz (Haverhill, Mass.) and his 12 point, three steal effort. Jesus Trejo (Methuen, Mass.) had a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Malcom Andrews (Medford, Mass.) was 3-of-10 from the floor, scoring eight points and hauling in five rebounds for the visitors.
Endicott turned 28 Lesley turnovers into 22 points, while also holding a sizeable 16-2 advantage in second chance scores. The Gulls were 27-of-57 (47.4%) from the floor, and also hit seven of their 22 three-point attempts. Lesley shot just 32% (16-of-50) and was 2-of-15 from three point territory.
In the early game, Wentworth's Todd Doyle (Mystic, Conn.) scored a game-high 19 points, including three of four shooting from behind the arc, as the Leopards toppled the University of Southern Maine, 72-59.
Both teams struggled to put points on the board in the early going, as they combined for just 16 points in the first 10 minutes of regulation. Despite shooting just 29% in the first half, Southern Maine was kept alive by solid play from its bench, which tallied 16 of the team's 22 points in the opening half.
The Huskies came out firing after halftime, fighting their way to a seven point lead in the first five minutes of play, thanks in part to eight quick points and a steal by junior forward Greg Whitaker (Presque Isle, Maine.). From there, Wentworth took over being paced by junior forwards Shane West (Saco, Maine) and Matt Abbott (Falmouth, Mass.), claiming the lead with a 20-2 run that buried Southern Maine.
West and Abbott led all players with 10 rebounds apiece for Wentworth, who shot an impressive 68% from the floor in the second half. The Huskies bench tallied 25 points, out-gaining the Wentworth reserves by 16.
All four teams will return to action in day two of the DIME Magazine Tip-Off Invitational on Sunday. Wentworth will square off with Lesley at 1:00 p.m., followed by the University of Southern Maine and Endicott at 3:00 p.m.