BABSON PARK, MA -- Four different players scored in double figures for the Union College men's basketball team on Saturday night, as the Dutchmen defeated Framingham State College, 71-68, in the semifinal round of the sixth annual Babson Invitational Tournament presented by Irving Oil held at Babson's Staake Gymnasium. With the victory, Union (1-0) advances to Sunday's championship game against host Babson at 3 p.m., while the Rams (1-3) will play Salve Regina in the consolation game at 1 p.m.
Leading Union's balanced scoring attack were
Drew Goldstein, who scored 18 points and dished out six assists while shooting 7-for-9 from the floor, and
Steve Madej, who added 17 points while hitting 5-of-10 from three-point range. Senior
Drew Desmarais finished with 14 points, six boards, and five assists while shooting 7-for-10 from the floor, and junior
Joey Lokitis contributed 13 points, four boards, and four assists, including a huge trifecta that gave the Dutchmen the lead for good with two minutes remaining.
Framingham State received a huge game from junior Josue Almodovar (Holyoke, Mass.), who scored 25 points and grabbed 11 boards while shooting 8-for-13 from the field and a perfect 8-for-8 from the line. Junior Bill Carey (Abington, Mass.) added 15 points while draining 5-of-11 three-pointers, and junior Darius Yarrell (Brockton, Mass.) chipped in with 10 points and five assists.
Framingham State used an 11-2 run late in the first half to build a 31-23 lead en route to an eventual 36-32 advantage at the break. Almodovar netted 12 of his points in the opening stanza, while Desmarais and Madej combined for 19 in the period for Union.
The two teams battle back and forth early in the second half before Union used a 9-2 spurt to build a 58-49 lead with seven minutes remaining. Framingham State would answer with an 11-0 run of its own to move in front, 60-58, with 4:21 on the clock, and neither team led by more than three the rest of the way.
After Yarrell hit one of two from the line to give the Rams a 66-64 lead with 2:14 left, Lokitis hit a huge three from deep in the right corner to put Union in front to stay, 67-66, with 2:02 remaining. Following an empty possession by Framingham State at the other end, Desmarais found Goldstein cutting to the hoop for a nice lay-up in traffic to push the Dutchmen's advantage to three at 69-66 with 1:15 to play. Almodovar then drew a foul hit both free throw attempts to get his team back to within one, 69-68, and he followed that with a huge steal to give the Rams a chance to take the lead. However, Framingham State was whistled for an offensive foul that gave the ball back to Union with 31.8 seconds remaining, and Lokitis sank a pair of free throws with 21 ticks left to once again make it a three-point game. Senior Anthony Smith (Dorchester, Mass.) would have a good look from long range on the Rams' final possession, but his bid hit back rim as time expired as Union survived with the 71-68 win.
Union shot 92% from the line, making 11 of 12 shots from the charity stripe, while Framingham State shot 85% from the line. Union also had a 42% mark from three point territory.
Box score
For more tournament information:
click here.
