January 2, 2009
Inge Erupts For 33 As Eagles Top Amcats, Face Wesleyan In Tourney Final

- Courtesy Wesleyan Athletic Communications -
Middletown, Conn. - Senior Brian Inge (Fort Washington, Md.) blistered from the field knocking down a career-high 33 points while tying the Daniel Webster College program record for three pointers in a game with eight to lead the Eagles past Anna Maria College, 78-57 in the opening round of the Inn at Middletown Tournament hosted by Wesleyan University Friday night.

The win pushed the Eagles (4-4) into Saturday's tourney final where they will face the host Cardinals, 71-64 winners over Wheelock College in the earlier matchup of the day. The championship is slated to tip off at 3:00 p.m.

Anna Maria and Wheelock will meet in the consolation at 1:00 p.m.

Inge, who finished an eye-catching 12 of 16 from the field including 9 of 11 in the opening frame, triggered a 24-2 run over a five-minute span midway through the first half to turn a 14-11 lead into a commanding 38-13 bulge with nine minutes remaining in the period. Inge finished the frame with 24 points while making five of six from beyond the arc. He had three treys during the 24-2 burst.

The lead grew to as many as 33 in the second half (66-33) after the score stood 53-24 at halftime. The Eagles shot 58.3 percent in the first half (9-18 3pt) and committed just three turnovers in building the 29-point edge. In all, the squad finished 15 of 34 from downtown, offsetting an almost nonexistent night (3 for 5) at the line.

Sophomore Chris Hanson (Salem, Mass.) and freshman William Kemp Harris (Suitland, Md.) both added double-digit scoring for the Eagles with 14 and 13 points, respectively with Harris knocking down 6 of 9 from the floor and Hanson nailing four treys.

Sophomores Junior De La Hoz and Chris Pinsonault led Anna Maria (2-8) with 11 points apiece.


In the tourney opener, Wesleyan (3-5) used an 11-4 burst in the second half to take the first double-digit lead of the game at 48-37 on a three-pointer by sophomore Mike Battle and maintained the lead the rest of the way.

Battle's bucket came with 14:22 remaining and complemented three-pointers from sophomore Otis Poisson and junior Jeremy Kaminer to spark the run that advanced a 37-33 margin. Wesleyan extended the lead to a game-best 16 at 59-43 with 8:00 to go.

Wheelock used strong full-court pressure over the next 2:30 to force three Wesleyan turnovers, scoring the next 11 points, five of those from junior Sherard Robbins, to cut the gap to five at 59-54. Robbins finished with game-high honors in scoring with 23 points as well as rebounds with 16.

But the Cardinals scored eight of the next 10 points, including Poisson's fourth three-pointer of the contest as Wesleyan extended the lead back to double-digits at 67-56 with 3:50 to play.

Wheelock (2-6) got no closer than seven down the stretch.

Sophomore Dan Main added 20 points for Wheelock while sophomore Dave Maltz picked up his third double-double of the season with 18 points and 11 rebounds to lead Wesleyan.