Men’s Basketball Completes Comeback Win Against Babson, 97-88

BABSON PARK, Mass. — Down 18 points in the second half, Endicott produced a 29-9 run in under seven minutes to eventually defeat Babson College, 97-88, for the second consecutive season in the Babson Invitational championship game on Sunday evening at Staake Gymnasium.

Keith Brown (Pelham, N.H.) fueled the Gulls' 29-9 run — which spanned from 16:43 to 9:45 — via 21 points (6 threes). Kyle Henderson (Southborough, Mass.) also contributed five points to the run, while Joe Del Ricci (Greenville, R.I.) provided the dagger on a three-pointer in front of Endicott's bench at the 9:45 mark that gave the Gulls the lead for good in the contest (68-66).

In the second half alone, Brown scored 29 of his game-high 38 points on 11-of-15 shooting from the field (6-for-8 3PT, 1-3 FT). For his efforts, Brown was named the Babson Invitational Tournament Most Valuable Player for the second straight season.

Henderson also had a hot hand in the second stanza as the freshman guard compiled 15 points (5-7 FG, 1-2 3PT, 4-4 FT). Henderson finished the game with a career-high 21 points (8-11 FG, 1-2 3PT, 4-4 FT).

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Last season, Endicott defeated the Beavers, 90-80, in the Babson Invitational.
• Brown is averaging 41.5 points per game against Babson in his career (two games, 83 points total, 38 today, 45 on 11/19/17, both games played at Babson).
• Endicott has shot over 40.0-percent from three-point range in seven straight games, dating back to last season.
• The Gulls are off to their best start over four games since 2013-14 (4-0). 
• In comparison, however, this year's start is far more noteworthy as the 2013-14 campaign featured wins over Fisher, Wheaton (Mass.), Lesley, and Wheelock College. 
• So far this season, Endicott has defeated Eastern Nazarene, No. 5 nationally ranked MIT (two-time defending NEWMAC champion), Suffolk (GNAC semifinalist), and Babson (2016-17 NCAA DIII National Champion).
• The 29-9 run by the Gulls in today's win featured one tie and three lead changes, the last being Endicott's 68-66 advantage with 9:45 to play.
• Endicott outscored Babson 63-38 in the second half.

WHAT'S NEXT

Endicott (4-0) travels to No. 17 Middlebury on Sunday, November 25 at 2 PM. Babson (2-2) hosts Bowdoin next Sunday at 2 PM. 

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(Photo Credit - Nick Grace)