LAS VEGAS, NV – Relegated to free-throw points for the final twelve minutes of the contest, the Amherst men's basketball team were overtaken by Ohio Northern University in a 78-62 decision on Sunday night at South Point Arena to close the D3Hoops.com Classic.
Amherst fell to a 7-3 record while ONU improved to 6-5 overall. Up next, the Mammoths will stay on the road to face Caltech in Pasadena, where they will face the Beavers at 2 p.m. on Tuesday at Braun Gymnasium.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS:
*Junior Marc Garraud fired up Amherst's offensive unit early, netting two layups from the paint in the opening two minutes to push the Mammoths ahead 4-0.
*With 14:54 remaining, Junior Adisa Molton passed through a tangle of players to junior J.J. Morris at the block, who quickly found the net to take the Polar Bears into the lead 9-6.
*First-year Sherron Woodberry fed to senior Chris Hammond to notch a jumper and regain the lead for the Mammoths at 15-13 with 8:58 to play.
*Foul-shooting dominated the next four minutes until a jumper from sophomore Austin Shultz equalized the game at 27-27 with 4:44 remaining.
*Woodberry followed up 30 seconds later with a high-arching three-pointer from the left flank to push Amherst ahead to 30-27.
*Both sides traded free throws to close the first half at a one-point game, 39-38 in favor of the Polar Bears.
*With 15:42 remaining in the second half, junior Nate Pabis connected with Garraud at the corner, who netted three points for the Mammoths and weakened ONU's lead to 46-45. Just over a minute later, Hammond followed up with a three-point jumper of his own to regain the lead for Amherst.
*The Polar Bears responded between 11:40 and 6:57 with a 13-0 drive that pushed the contest to 61-53 in favor of ONU. The effort was highlighted by one three-pointer apiece from sophomore Aiden Harris, junior Noah Langford, and senior Mason Studer.
*Amherst's offensive unit was stifled to free-throw shooting for the remainder of the game, while ONU maintained its cushion with layups, closing the game 78-62.
BY THE NUMBERS:
*ONU held the offensive advantage, netting 40% (22-55) compared to 34% (18-53) of field goal attempts, 41.7% (10-24) compared to 34.6% (9-26) of three-pointer attempts, and 85.7% (24-28) compared to 68% (17-25) of free throw attempts.
*Harris was the game's leading scorer, bucketing 20 points. Off Amherst's bench, Neville had the most points with 15.
*Hammond recorded a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds, the most of any player.
