MBB Pushes #13 Brandeis Before Falling, 74-69

MBB Pushes #13 Brandeis Before Falling, 74-69
MILTON, Mass. – Nationally-ranked Brandeis University had all it could handle from host Curry College before putting away the Colonels, 74-69, in men’s basketball action Monday night in Milton. The 13th-ranked Judges (8-1) extended their winning streak to six, while Curry (3-7) saw its three-game winning streak snapped.

The teams battled back and forth in the first half before Brandeis took the lead for good at 6:52 after a pair of free throws by senior captain Terrell Hollins (Springfield, MA) made the score 25-24. The visitors went on to open up a 46-34 edge at halftime.

The Judges took their largest lead of the game at 15:44 of the second frame when sophomore guard Vytas Kriskus (Kvedarna, Lithuania) drained a three-pointer that gave his team a 56-38 advantage. Curry fought back to close the deficit to three, 72-69, after a layup, a foul and free-throw shot by junior center Rodney Bennett (Mattapan, MA) with 16 seconds left in regulation. But a pair of free throws by senior guard Andre Roberson (Springfield, MA) with seven seconds remaining clinched the victory for Brandeis.

Kriskus led the Judges in scoring with a game-high and career-high 26 points. Hollins was the only other Brandeis player in double figures with 12 points. Hollins was also the Judges’ high rebounder with 11.

Senior captain Mark Mastrullo (Billerica, MA) led the Colonels with 22 points, including seven three-pointers. Senior captain Phillipe Jourdain (Cambridge, MA) also scored in double figures with 20. Bennett led the Colonels in rebounding with 10.

Curry’s resumes action on January 9 at Western New England College at 3:00 p.m. Brandeis travels to New York University on January 9 as well for a 4:00 p.m. contest.

Box Score/Play-By-Play