Box Score
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - The Saint Anselm College men's basketball team suffered an 82-76 setback in overtime to Stonehill College on Tuesday night in the NCAA East Regional Final hosted by Holy Family University in Philadelphia, Pa.
The Hawks finish the season at 23-8 overall after appearing in their 20th NCAA Tournament and earning their second trip to the Sweet 16 in the past three seasons. Stonehill improves to 24-8 overall and advances to the Elite Eight taking place in Frisco, Texas on March 23-26.
Senior Mike McCahey (Clarkstown, N.Y.) and junior Harrison Taggart (Wallingford, Vt.) were each named to the East Region All-Tournament Team.
Taggart just missed a double-double with 21 points and nine rebounds, while Chris Braley (Newport, Maine) posted 14 points, 10 rebounds, and a pair of steals. Victor Joshua (New Haven, Conn.) added 14 points, two rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block, with Tim Guers (Langhorne, Pa.) joining them in double-figures with 12 points, five assists, and a pair of steals.
Mike McCahey scored seven points to go with eight rebounds, while Cody Ball (Londonderry, N.H.) had six points, two rebounds, and three assists off the bench.
Stonehill was led by the East Regional Most Outstanding Player Carter Smith, who had 25 points on 8-of-12 shooting, two rebounds, and three assists. Ryan Logan, also named to the All-Tournament Team, added a double-double of 18 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, while Isaiah Bess had 14 points and five rebounds. Adam Bramanti chipped in 11 points and six rebounds, with Pierce Cumpstone recording nine points and eight rebounds.
The Hawks shot 47% (31-of-66) from the floor, while knocking down 6-of-17 (35.3%) of their threes and 8-of-13 (61.5%) of their free throws. Stonehill shot 49.1% (28-of-57) from the field, connecting on 10-of-26 (38.5%) of their threes and 16-of-23 (69.6%) free throws on the night. Saint Anselm won the rebounding battle (36-33) and the turnovers were fairly even with the Skyhawks turning it over 14 times, and the Hawks having 15 missteps.
In a back-and-forth game that had 14 ties and 19 lead changes, neither team led by more than six points the entire contest.
Victor Joshua gave the Hawks a 12-10 lead 12:50 into the first half, but a 5-0 spurt from the Skyhawks gave Stonehill a 15-12 advantage nearly two minutes later. Harrison Taggart knocked down a jumper to pull the Hawks within one, and Grant Mackay (North Berwick, Scotland) came barreling down the lane for a monster dunk that gave Saint Anselm the lead back at 16-15. Carter Smith answered with a triple for the Skyhawks before Cody Ball scored on back-to-back possessions to put the Hawks in front 20-18 and force a Stonehill timeout.
At the 5:42 mark, Smith knocked down another triple and Pierce Cumpstone stole a pass and dunked on the fast-break to give the Skyhawks their largest lead of the game at 28-22. Mike McCahey knocked down a jumper, but Adam Bramanti scored inside to keep it a six-point game. Taggart buried two-straight three balls to pull the Hawks even at 30-30, but Ryan Logan hit a three of his own to go back up by three.
After a Cody Ball jumper, Tim Guers converted a three-point play and Mike McCahey scored inside on a feed from Taggart to put the Hawks on top 37-33 with less than a minute to play in the half. Stonehill had the answer again as Isaiah Bess banked home a layup and Josh Heyliger knocked down a three as the clock expired on the half with the Skyhawks on top 38-37.
Mike McCahey hit his first three of the game with 18:37 to play in the second half to give Saint Anselm a 44-42 lead. Victor Joshua got a runner to fall and sparked a personal 6-2 run by the senior to give the Hawks a 50-45 lead with 14:54 to play. Tim Guers knocked down a jumper to keep it a 52-47 advantage, but Carter Smith hit another three, then scored on the fast-break, before Bramanti hit a three of his own to put the Skyhawks on top 55-52 with 12:22 to play.
Tim Guers traded scores with Logan and kept the Hawks within one at 57-56. Victor Joshua eventually scored inside as the Hawks took a 63-58 lead with 5:22 remaining. As they had done all night, Stonehill responded, this time with a pair of Smith free throws and a three from Cumpstone off an offensive rebound to tie the game at 63-all.
Ryan Logan put the Skyhawks in front at 66-63 with a triple and Bramanti went 1-for-2 at the charity stripe to give Stonehill a 67-63 lead with 1:39 to play. Tim Guers knocked down a three to pull the Hawks to within one, and the Hawks forced a turnover with less than a minute to play. The Hawks worked the shot clock down and Joshua drove middle and kicked to Chris Braley, who buried a corner three to give Saint Anselm a 69-67 lead with 26 seconds remaining.
Stonehill called timeout, setting up the exact same play for Carter Smith that had won them their Semifinal game against Southern New Hampshire. Smith moved towards the baseline and rolled in a layup that tied the game at 69-69 with 14 seconds remaining. The Hawks ran up the floor, and had a pair of chances for the go-ahead basket, but neither shot would fall as the game spilled into overtime.
Taggart put the Hawks on top 72-71 with a triple, but Logan answered with a jumper inside to put the Skyhawks on top 73-72 only a minute into the extra frame. After a Bramanti free throw, Taggart scored inside to tie the game at 74-74 and only 1:34 to play.
The Hawks got a stop on the next possession, but Guers was called for an offensive foul that gave the Skyhawks the ball back with 53 seconds remaining. Smith made the Hawks pay with a layup, and after an empty possession by Saint Anselm, Bramanti knocked down a pair with 19 seconds remaining to put them on top by four at 78-74.
Victor Joshua hit two free throws of his own to pull the Hawks back to within two at 78-76, but Saint Anselm was forced to foul and the Skyhawks went a perfect 4-for-4 at the charity stripe down the stretch to hang on for the 82-76 victory and advance to the Elite Eight.
This marked the final game for seniors McCahey, Joshua, Ryan Hartung (Haverhill, Mass.), and Andrew Murphy (Franklin, Mass.). McCahey finishes his career ranked eighth in career points (1,755), 15th in career three-pointers (206), 10th in rebounds (750), seventh in career field goals (633), and sixth in career minutes played (3,528). Victor Joshua leaves with 114 games played, 986 career points, 329 rebounds, 289 assists, and 88 career steals.
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