NEW PALTZ, NY- With 10.2 seconds remaining in the game and trailing 69-68, Shereef Taylor raced up the court and dished it off to Nick Taldi in the corner for a three-pointer that rimmed out as #7 Williams survives 70-68 in the Hawk Center. Taylor led three double-figure scorers for the Hawks with 22 points.
Head coach Dagan Nelson said “As a team, we grew a lot closer due to today’s 40 minutes of toughness, determination and overall heart. As a coaching staff, we are proud of our players. We have shown what we really can be.”
In the first half, the Hawks and Ephs battled back and forth to a 9-9 tie in the first five minutes. After a lay-up by E. Timmins-Schiffman, the Ephs went on a 9-0 run over a two and half minute span to take an 18-9 advantage. The Hawks cut the lead to six at 21-15, but the Ephs would score four straight to take a 25-15 lead. Williams would go into the break with a 39-32 lead.
In the second half, the Hawks came out strong, scoring the first four points on back-to-back lay-ups by Taylor and would go on a 12-4 run in the opening five minutes to take a 46-43 advantage on a Taldi three-pointer from the top of the key. The Hawks held a 60-57 lead with eight minutes, 20 seconds to go, but a 7-0 run by the Ephs gave them a 64-60 lead. After a jumper by Taylor to cut it to 64-62, Schultz answered back with a jumper. Wichard drilled a trey from the left corner to cut the lead to 65-64 with two minutes, two seconds to go. After a foul by the Hawks, Schultz hit one of two from the free throw line that gave the Ephs a two point lead with one minute, nine seconds to go. With 26 seconds remaining, Wichard hit a three-pointer to give the Hawks with a 68-67 advantage. James Wang gave the Ephs the lead with back-to-back free throws with 11 seconds to go, which led to the missed three-pointer with one second left.
Taylor led the Hawks with 22 points, five rebounds and four assists. Wichard finished with 16 points and six rebounds and Jayquan Anderson finished with 16 points, five rebounds and four assists. Oppong Agyemang, the nation’s leader in assists, was able to only play 11 minutes due to an injury sustained in the first five minutes of the game. Taldi had nine points, five rebounds and a career-high four assists as the Hawks fall to 7-7 overall on the season.
Troy Whittington led the Ephs with 19 points, four rebounds and five blocks. Schultz finished with 17 points, 8-of-9 from the free throw line, and three assists and Wang finished with 16 points as the Ephs improve to 15-1 overall.
