March 7, 2009
The ECAC Semifinals:
Eagles Run Ends, Fall To Rivier 75-70
- Best Season In Program History Comes To A Close -

Nashua – Kevin Harrington (Center Ossipee, N.H.) led four players in double figures with 17 points while Lance Bisson (Nashua, N.H.) and Nick Bean (E. Longmeadow, Mass.) added 15 each guiding seventh-seeded Rivier College past sixth-seeded and host Daniel Webster College, 75-70 in the ECAC New England Championship semifinals before a full house Saturday afternoon.

The largest estimated crowd in Mario Vagge Gymnasium history saw the Raiders (16-12) advance to its first championship game to face the winner of either No. 1 seed Lasell or No. 4 seed Becker in tomorrow’s final. The two play late Saturday in the second semifinal.

Brian Inge (Ft. Washington, Md.) closed out his stellar two-year Eagle career with a game high 21 points including 18 in the second half as Daniel Webster finished its best overall season in program history at 18-10 overall.

Chris Hanson (Salem, Mass.) added 18 for the Eagles, all in the first half, while William Kemp Harris (Suitland, Md.) added eight points and eight rebounds. Tim Jackson (W. Henrietta, N.Y.), Adam Landry (Vernon, Conn.) and Steve Savage (Salem, N.H.) chipped in six points apiece.

Don Poitras (Bow, N.H.) added nine points and a game high nine rebounds for the Raiders.

The game marked the 36th all time meeting between the two longtime Nashua rivals, but only their third postseason meeting and first in 11 years. Both squads were also making their first appearance in the ECAC tourney.

Rivier advanced despite turning the ball over 24 times, thanks to an important advantage on the boards (45-32) as the Eagles were limited to just three second chance points. Rivier also finished with a 34-18 scoring edge in the paint.

Cold Eagle shooting throughout was another factor. DWC managed just 29-percent in the first half (9-31), while Rivier hit 44-percent (14-32) and the Raiders held a 38-31 lead at the break.

DWC improved to 39-percent in the second, but the Raiders hit the shots they needed down the stretch to hold off a second half Eagle charge.

Trailing 49-40 with 14:27 remaining, Inge dropped a three and after a Bisson tip in, Harris followed with a layup, Inge added a jumper and Chris Voukides (Salem, N.H.) nailed a trey from deep in the left pocket for a 51-50 game with 10:57 left.

Bisson followed with a jumper in the lane at the 10 minute mark, but two turnovers and seven straight missed shots doomed the Eagles hopes as Rivier rebuilt the lead to 63-50 following two Bean free throws with 4:24 to go.

Down 69-59 with 47 seconds left, Inge hit from downtown for a 69-62 game with 37 ticks to go, but Harrington went 5 for 6 at the line in the closing seconds to ice it.

The Eagles bid farewell to three seniors: Inge, who finished with 755 points in two seasons, Jackson, and Joel Prince (Woodbridge, Va.), who dished out four assists in his final game.