Monks finish second in ECAC
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Junior forward Jim Bayne (Bristol, CT) had game-highs of 25 points and 13 rebounds as the top-seeded Golden Bears held on for a 68-62 victory over second-seeded Saint Joseph’s in the title game of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III New England Championship last week.
The victory gave the Golden Bears a final record of 22-8 that tied as the second highest win total in the program’s history and its first ever post-season tournament title. The Monks, competing in their first ECAC Championship, also finished 22-8.
Both teams traded leads in the opening half before St. Joseph’s settled down to take a 28-25 lead at half-time.
There were three ties in the first 1:36 of the second stanza before the Golden Bears opened a four-point cushion at 36-32 at the 17:14 mark.
Western New England went on a 13-0 run for a 49-35 advantage capped by a three-pointer by junior guard Ryan Hernandez (Hampton Bays, NY) with 10:49 left in the contest.
The Monks, however, staged a gallant comeback scoring nine straight points to get within 58-50 after two free throws by senior forward Matt Plummer (Naples, ME) with 3:28 left. Another charity shot by Plummer got the visitors within five at 63-58 with 1:17 remaining, but the Golden Bears made five free throws in the final 50 seconds to seal the contest.
St. Joseph’s (22-8) had four players scoring in double figures led by sophomore forward Elbie Murphy (Loudonville, NY) with 12 points, four rebounds, and three blocks. Senior forward Colby Emmons (Portland, ME) (10 points, 7 rebounds) and Plummer (10 points, 6 rebounds) played well coming off the bench. Graduate student guard Chad Pulkkinen (Windham, ME) chipped-in with 10 points and five rebounds.
St. Joseph’s baseball pre-season favorite
St. Joseph’s College has been chosen as the baseball preseason favorite of the North Atlantic Conference in a vote conducted by the league’s coaches. The Monks received five first place votes and a total of 46 points in the NAC baseball preseason poll. The defending NAC champions return seven starters including 2006 first-team all-conference selections Luke Enman and Brian Schools. St. Joseph’s will need to find a way to replace the pitching and offense of the departed Charlie Furbush, who led the Monks to an 11-1 conference mark last season, and NAC title and an NCAA tournament appearance.
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