WBRS Sports Blog

Men's basketball team drops second straight game to start the season; WPI tops Brandeis 78-64 Saturday night in Worcester

By Jeffrey Pickette

Probably safe to say this isn't the start to the season the men's basketball team's coaches and players envisioned.

WPI handed Brandeis its second loss in as many games. Where the Lasell game last Tuesday was contested right down to the final shot at the buzzer, WPI pulled ahead in this game last Saturday night early in the second half.

Brandeis jumped out of the gate with an 8-3 lead four minutes into the game, behind two three-pointers from rookie guard Tyrone Hughes '12. Unfortunately for the Judges, the five-point lead would represent the team's largest of the game.

WPI sophomore forward Ben Etten sank two free-throws midway through the first-half, giving WPI a 13-12 lead and the Engineers never looked back. WPI increased the lead to six by halftime, 34-28, and to as many as 17 points at five different occasions in the second-half, before winning by the final margin of 14 points.

Brandeis falls to 0-2 and faces a must-win game in its home opener Tuesday night against UMass Dartmouth (7:30pm, WBRS with the call on the radio). Meanwhile, WPI improves to 4-0.

Inside the numbers...

... Brandeis had just 10 assists, while turning the ball over 23 times. WPI had a much more even 10:15 (2:3 if you prefer simplified fractions) assist to turnover ratio.

... WPI entered the game shooting only 28 percent from three-point range (14-50), but hit 6 of 14 shots against Brandeis (42.9%). Brandeis allowed Lasell to convert 12 of 23 three-pointers, or 52.2 percent.

...WPI went to the free throw line 34 times, while Brandeis went to the line only 20 times.

... Forward Terrell Hollins '10 fouled out (5 personal fouls) after only 12 minutes of play. He has appeared in just 29 of 80 minutes of action for Brandeis so far this season.

... Forward Steve DeLuca (GRAD) led all scorers with 18 points. Hughes added 11, while guard Kevin Olson '09 chipped in 10 points. Rookie forward Vytas Kriskus '12 scored 8 points off the bench.

Lineup change...

... Hughes was in the starting lineup, with guard Kenny Small '10 coming off the bench. Keep an eye on whether this becomes a permanent move.

Postgame chatter...

Coach Meehan on team's performance

"Nobody's at their best right now, everybody's struggling. We're trying to find an identity, we're trying to figure out how best to play with each other and it's just not there yet."

Coach Meehan on play of Tyrone Hughes

"He gives us another ball handler to help [guard Andre Roberson '10] out. He's at least giving us a little bit of defense...he's played two good games, but he has a long way to go. He's not there yet, but at least he's showing signs of having a willingness to do what we're asking him to do."

Asst. Coach McKoy on why the team lost

"A lot of times we just left guys wide open so that they would hit [three-pointers]...We weren't talking or communicating as much as we needed to. We weren't doing what we needed to do on offense, which was pound the ball inside. We were breaking down plays and rushing shots too much."

Steve DeLuca on team's offensive struggles

"They were [WPI] spreading us out offensively. They're a very good defensive team...and they make it difficult on the offensive end for us."

Kevin Olson on the team's surprising 0-2 start

"It's pretty unimaginable, I didn't foresee this one happening."

Tyrone Hughes assessing the first two games

"I feel like we just have a few missing pieces of the puzzle, but as soon as we get it together we'll be [on track]."

Final thought...

... Let's give Steve DeLuca the honors of having the final word:

"We need a win on Tuesday [against UMass Dartmouth]. It's probably the season if we don't win."