Story written and posted by Anthony Perry '08, Fisher College Associate Director of Athletics
BROOKLINE, MASS. – They say nothing good happens after midnight. As that might be the case, the Fisher College Men's Basketball team wrote a different ending as they came from behind twice at the end of regulation and in overtime to win the first collegiate basketball game in America this season. A 100-99 thriller over visiting Vermont State University – Randolph which was played with a 12:01am tip-off and served as the first game this season in the country at any collegiate level.
It was absolute madness inside the near capacity crowd at Pappas Gymnasium in the early hours of Thursday morning. Trailing by two points with just 2.5 seconds left on the clock in regulation, junior Ke'Andre Penceal (Coram, N.Y.) was more like a quarterback then a forward, as his long inbound throw was right on the money to senior Christian Finney (Los Angeles, Calif.). The 6-5 forward caught the pass, took two quick strides and laid the ball off the backboard and in as the red lights lit up to tie the game at 91 and force the overtime period.
The extra five minutes of action was purely that. The quick tempo saw both squad trade points early and often. VSU-Randolph's Chris Morneo (Wilbraham, Mass.) hit a free throw with 22 seconds remaining to give the Knights a slim 99-97 lead. His subsequent free throw attempt rimmed out and Finney was quick to pounce on it. A timeout by the Falcons allowed things to settle and the atmosphere started to mount with the raucous home crowd eager for a season-opening win.
Penceal brought the ball down the court and found a sprinting Finney in the paint, who laid it up and in while drawing the contact for an 'and one' play to tie the game at 99 apiece. Finney then drained the free throw to make 100-99 but there was still time on the clock for the Knights, 11 seconds to be exact. The Knights inbounded the ball, got up court only to be denied by the Falcon defense as they created the turnover and seal the victory for the home squad. As the clock expired, the fans stormed the court in celebration for the Falcons as they are now 1-0 on the season.
Senior Dakota Gillespie (El Paso, Texas) led the way offensively for Fisher as he totaled the game-high of 29 points. The sharp-shooting veteran connected on 7-of-13 from beyond the arc in the contest while collecting six rebounds. Penceal finished his electric morning with 25 points, 8-for-16 from the floor, with four rebounds and four assists. Finney ended with 15 points and newcomer, junior Jalen Anderson (Charlottesville, Va.) chipped in with 16 points and matched the team-high of seven rebounds in his Falcon debut.
The resilient Vermont State squad had five members reach double-digits in points, led by Tyler Allen (Baltimore, Md.). The rookie recorded a double-double in his first collegiate action as he led the team with 27 points and 11 rebounds, also a game-high. Junior Lovell Hayes (Houston, Texas) also notched a double-double as he finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Other members of the Knights reaching the double-digit plateau were junior Jaylon Calvin (Houston, Texas) and sophomore Xzavier Ivey (Waxhaw, N.C.), who finished with 19 and 17 points respectively.
The Knights held the lead at the half, 41-38, and outshot the Falcons overall 45.3% to 44.7%. VSU-Randolph also held the advantage in rebounds (53-44) and had three less turnovers than that of their opponent (17-20). However, it was at the free-throw line where Fisher had the deciding edge as they were 23-for-28 (82.1%) where the Knights were 18-32 (59.4%).
Fisher will hit the road for their next scheduled contest, a NAIA contest at Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pa. on Friday, November 3rd. Game time is scheduled for 8pm. Vermont State – Randolph will remain on the road as they visit SUNY-Adirondack on Saturday, November 4th for a 1pm tip-off.