From a Wesleyan University release

MIDDLETOWN, CT - The fifth-ranked Amherst College men's basketball team suffered its first loss of the 2008-09 season this evening, dropping a 72-69 result at Little Three rival Wesleyan University on a last-second three pointer.

Amherst held a four point lead at the half, but trailed the Cardinals down the stretch. After tying the game at 69-apiece on a three  with six seconds to play, the Lord Jeffs saw a final triple from Wesleyan steal the game away.

Wesleyan (4-6) ended a 16-game losing skid vs. the Lord Jeffs, dating back to the last Cardinal victory on Feb. 9, 2001 in Amherst, 98-89.  This was Wesleyan's first home triumph against Amherst since Jan. 13, 1999, spanning nine games. Wesleyan junior Jeremy Kaminer, who posted a career high with 23 points, went 8-for-14 from the field and 4-for-5 from three-point range.  His previous career high was 22 points vs. Fisher Dec. 12, 2007.

Wesleyan trailed by double-figures in both halves and faced its largest deficit with 12 minutes remaining, 55-43.  But the Cardinals went on an 18-5 run to take their first lead since scoring the game's opening point on a free throw.

Sophomore Dave Maltz scored on an inside move with 4:40 to go to put Wesleyan ahead, 61-60.  The Cardinals kept their streak going, eventually moving ahead by five, 65-60, making it a 22-5 stretch at the 2:45 mark on a driving layup by first-yearJason Mendell (12 points). 

After a basket by sophomore Conor Meehan (Meriden, CT) drew Amherst within three at 65-62, senior Stan Grayson hit a pair of critical free-throws after a second-chance situation with 1:29 left for a 67-62 lead.  The Lord Jeffs responded with a pair of junior Steven Wheeler (Bloomington, MN) free throws to make it 67-64 at 1:21. Wesleyan got one more at the line from sophomore Otis Poisson to up its lead to 68-64 with 52 seconds to go.  Another Grayson free throw followed a pair of Amherst missed three-point tries to make it 69-64 with 30 seconds remaining.  Grayson finished the game 7-for-12 from the field with 19 points.

Meehan again scored for Amherst, only his second basket of the game, with 19.7 to go to make it 69-66.  Wesleyan attempted to inbound the ball and was called for a traveling violation.  Amherst took advantage to spring Wheeler free on the left side for a good look at a trey, and he buried the shot to give him game-high scoring honors with 24. 

Wheeler's game-tying three came with just :06.7 showing on the clock.  The Cardinals got the ball inbounds to Kaminer in the back court, and the point guard streaked up the right side, running into a double-team along the sideline.  He elevated and took the shot just before the buzzer as the ball kissed the glass and went through for the winning hoop. Senior co-captain Brian Baskauskas (Palo Alto, CA) scored 11 points, and pulled down 15 rebounds in the loss. 

Amherst, which came into the game hitting 47.7 percent of its three pointers to rank first in Division III, was limited to 8-for-29 shooting from behind the arc (27.6 percent) and just 35.6 overall on field goals.  Wesleyan hit 51.0 percent of its field goals and an astonishing 53.3 percent of its treys (8-for-15).  Wesleyan was shooting only 31.5 percent on three-pointers coming into the game. The teams were even on the boards (40-40), Amherst committed only eight turnovers, and Wesleyan turned the ball over 17 times.

The Jeffs will look to rebound from a loss for the first time this season when they travel to face NESCAC and Little Three archrival Williams College on Saturday afternoon in the first of this season's two meetings. Amherst will take the floor against the Ephs at 4 p.m. following a game between the women's teams at 2 p.m.

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