Nighthawks Suffer Heartbreak Loss to Eagles, 68-67

The fourth place Newbury College men’s basketball team was defeated by fifth place Daniel Webster College, 68-67, Tuesday evening in NECC action.  Four Nighthawks tallied double-figures in scoring led by conference player of the week, sophomore forward Peterson Bernard (Boston, MA/Madison Park), who netted 18 points.  Eagles’ freshman forward Daris Crosby (Columbia, S.C./Richland Northeast) netted 18 points and sophomore forward John Hickson (Springfield, Mass./Cathedral) added 17 in the victory.

Newbury College and Daniel Webster traded leads multiple times early in the first half.  At 9:55, Daniel Webster took the lead for the first time on a jumper by Jonathan Smalls (Deer Park, N.Y./Deer Park) from the top of the key.  The Eagles pulled ahead to a 10-point advantage, 33-23, at the half.

Daniel Webster held a 17 point lead, 59-42, with eight minutes remaining in the game.  The Nighthawks, highlighted by Chris Torres’ (Brockton, Mass./Brockton) three-pointer, scored nine unanswered points closing gap to 8 points.  After two Daniel Webster missed free throws with 1:18 remaining in the contest, Newbury’s run continued sparked by Eric Watson’s (New Rochelle, NY/New Rochelle) three-pointer bringing Newbury within five points, 64-59.  Following two more free throw misses, Torres responded with a quick bucket with one minute remaining making the contest a one possession game.  Crosby hit one of two free throws on the next possession but Watson countered with a successful drive to the basket bringing the lead within two points, 67-65. Daniel Webster added to their lead with 15 seconds remaining when Crosby hit one of two from the foul stripe.  Newbury had a chance to tie the game but Young’s three-pointer missed.  A layup off the rebound by Bernard, two of his 16 second half points, at the buzzer wasn’t enough to overcome the Eagles.

Newbury College’s overall record falls to 5-12 and 4-4 in the NECC.  Daniel Webster College improves to 9-6 overall and 3-3 in conference play.   The Nighthawks return to action on Saturday, January 29^th when they host second place Southern Vermont College Mountaineers (11-5; 5-1 NECC) at 12:00PM.  The Eagles will return to the hard court on Thursday, January 27, when they host non-conference opponent Castleton State.

- Game photo by: Samantha Yanofsky