Last-Minute Stephens' Layup Lifts Men's Basketball Past Visiting Wesleyan, 81-78

Last-Minute Stephens' Layup Lifts Men's Basketball Past Visiting Wesleyan, 81-78
MILTON, Mass. – Senior Sedale Jones (Pittsfield, Mass.) and junior Carlos Ribeiro (Charlestown, Mass.) combined for 43 of Curry’s 81 points, edging visiting Wesleyan, 81-78, in non-conference men’s basketball action Saturday afternoon in Milton. The Colonels improve to 5-4 overall, while the Cardinals fall to 6-4.

Curry took an early lead, opening the game on a 13-5 run. The run began with a layup by junior A.J. Stephens (Stamford, Conn.) and was capped off with a Ribeiro three-point play at the 12:49 mark. The Colonels maintained their lead through the first half, but Wesleyan trimmed the deficit to two (38-36) at intermission after a buzzer-beating jump shot by senior Shasha Brown (Harlem, N.Y.).

Brown sank a shot from beyond the arc with 17:56 remaining in the second frame to give the Cardinals their first lead of the game (41-40).  With Curry down by two (58-56) at the 10:33 mark, sophomore Antonio Jones (Boston, Mass.) and Stephens scored four points apiece in an 8-0 run that gave the Colonels a 64-58 edge with 8:13 on the clock.

After seven lead changes, Wesleyan held a 78-77 advantage with 59 seconds remaining in regulation after senior Derick Beresford (Hampton, Ga.) sank a pair from the charity stripe. Eight seconds later, junior Lambros Papalambros (Quincy, Mass.) made his first of two free throws to knot the game at 78-78. After Papalambros missed his second attempt from the charity stripe, Sedale Jones pulled down an offensive rebound that later led to a layup by Stephens with 25 seconds on the clock to give Curry an 80-78 lead. The Colonels’ defense forced the Cardinals to turn the ball over on their next possession and split another pair from the free throw line to extend the lead to three. Wesleyan had its final offensive possession, but missed a three-point attempt at the buzzer.

Sedale Jones scored a team-high 23 points, while Ribeiro added 20. Stephens and Papalambros chipped in with 16 and 10 points, respectively. Stephens pulled down a team-best seven rebounds.

Senior Mike Callaghan (Madison, Conn.) recorded a game-high 26 points, while pulling down nine boards. Brown contributed with 17 points, while Beresford scored 15. Junior Glen Thomas (Washington, D.C.) had a game-high 13 rebounds.

Curry returns to action on January 5, hosting Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) rival Salve Regina for a 3:00 p.m. contest. The Cardinals resume play on December 30, travelling to Cabrini College for a 1:00 p.m. tip-off.