MIDDLETOWN, Conn. - Wesleyan University (4-3) got four free throws from freshman Shasha Brown in the closing 1:30 to erase its last deficit at 58-57 and go on to hand visiting Roger Williams University (7-2) just its second loss in nine starts with a 63-61 victory in men's basketball.
Sophomore Jason Mendell hit two timely free throws for the Cardinals with :16 remaining to give Wesleyan a 63-59 edge. They proved to be the winning points when sophomore Gary Madison (Waterbury, Conn.) scored a layup on an offensive rebound with :04 showing to make it 63-61. Wesleyan got the ball in bounds to Brown who eluded several RWU defenders, allowing time to expire.
Wesleyan pushed out to its largest lead of the second half with 5:25 to go when freshman Derick Beresford canned a three-pointer to make it 56-49. The Hawks responded by scoring nine of the next 10 points to go ahead for the last time 58-57 on a short jumper from the right side by sophomore Pat Flanagan (Somerville, Mass.) at 1:41 off a nice dish by junior Corey Fava (Aliso Viejo, Calif.). Brown's freebies put the Cardinals back in the lead at 1:30 before Madison tied the game at 59-59 with a free throw at 1:07. Brown sank another pair from the line at :51.5 and after a Hawk turnover, Mendell put home a pair from the stripe at :16 to clinch the triumph.
Brown finished the game with 21 for Wesleyan while Mendell had 10. The Cardinals got a great game from freshman Mike Callaghan, who collected 17 points on 7-for-12 shooting from the field along with a game-high 12 rebounds, five of them offensive.
Flanagan led Roger Williams with 18 points as he went 7-for-11 from the field and had seven boards. Madison and junior Taylor Petruccelli (Stratford, Conn.) each chipped in with 12 points while the latter had a team-leading 10 caroms.
Wesleyan had as much as a 10-point lead early in the contest, moving out to a 16-6 margin just 5:45 into the game. Roger Williams battled back and took its first lead of the game 26-25 on a three-pointer by sophomore Joe Kane (Glenmont, N.Y.). The Hawks took a 27-26 lead into the locker room. Neither team led by more than five in the second half until Beresford's three-pointer with 5:25 left.
This was just the fourth meeting between the teams. Each has won its two home games during the series.
Wesleyan closes out the 2009 portion of its schedule Saturday, Dec. 12 with a game at the Merchant Marine Academy. Roger Williams has completed the first segment of its season. The Hawks also will play their next game at the Merchant Marine Academy, but in a tournament setting vs. Hobart on Saturday, Jan. 2.
- Release courtesy of the Wesleyan University Sports Information Department
