Defending champ Christopher Newport holds off Widener
Jahn Hines scored 24 points and was primarily responsible for ending Widener’s dream Saturday night, as reigning Division III defending champion Christopher Newport outlasted the Pride 70-65 in a second-round NCAA tournament game.
Toa Hollenbeck added 12 points for Christopher Newport (22-6), which advances to the Round of 16.
For Widener (24-4), Dominic Dunn scored 21 points and pulled down seven rebounds, and Howie Rankine Jr. added 16 points. Michael Kane scored 13.
The Pride were down 41-31 at halftime. But they closed the gap and twice got within three points early in the second half.
A free throw by Kevin Schenk with 12:09 left to the Pride to within 46-44. A free throw by Dominic Dunn closed it to 49-47, and then the Pride took the lead on a 3-point jumper by Schenk.
Widener got it out to 5449 with 7:33 left, but CNU’s Ethan Ward hit on a layup to start a comeback.
Dunn got it to 56-51, but CNU then got hot, closed it to 61-all on a Hollenbeck basket with 3:37 left, and took the lead on a Hines layup with 3:10 left.
Widener tied it on free throws by Dunn, but Christopher Newport would then pull away down the stretch.
KEENE STATE 109, EASTERN 85 »
The Eagles couldn’t contain Keene State guard Octavio Brito, who lit it up for 40 points as the hosts improve to 25-3 and advance to the Sweet 16.
Brito also pulled down nine rebounds. Forward Jeff Hunter helped out with 20 points and 14 boards, while guard Spencer Aronson scored 14 points.
For Eastern (21-7), Zubair Lee led the way with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Kaeshawn Ward hit on 16 points and fellow guard Jaron Fairweather and Elijay Morris each scored 13 points. The Eagles were coming off their first ever NCAA tournament win Friday night.
TRINITY COLLEGE 83, SWARTHMORE 74 » The Garnet learned what so many other teams learned this season — the school from Hartford making its first NCAA appearance in nine years is a solid and complete team.
Forwards Henry Vetter and Ben Callahan-Gold each scored 17 points, and Dana Smith added 13 as Trinity posted its 27th victory in 28 starts this season. Its only loss of the season was to Williams College, which knocked the Bantams out of their NESCAC conference playoffs a season ago.
Senior Vinny DeAngelo, the All-Delco guard out of Sun Valley, went out in a big way. DeAngelo hit on only 3 of 16 3-pointer attempts, but was a perfect 10-for-10 from the line en route a 33-point performance. Fellow guard
Cal Hanson scored 14 points and Michael Caprise added nine for Swarthmore (21-8).
Women’s Basketball
Mia Robbins scored 26 points in 33 very effective minutes, but the Pride fell short in their bid to make the Round of 16.
Springfield High grad Jordan D’Ambrosio finished with 11 points, as did Gianna Samuels. Lindsay Kutz added 10 points for Widener, which finishes its season 24-4.
For Bates, Morgan Kennedy scored 22 points and Sarah Hughes added 18.