Jan 24, 2009
Rudowitz’s Buzzer Beater Gives Stonehill 73-72 Win
NORTH ANDOVER, MA. – A.J. Rudowitz’s buzzer-beater
from just outside the free throw line gave 13th-ranked Stonehill
the 73-72 thrilling victory Saturday over Merrimack in a battle for
first place at the Volpe Gym.
The Warriors trailed 71-69 with 57 seconds remaining, but
Darren Duncan (Briarwood, NY) drove to the hoop
and drilled a short jumper to even the score at 71. On the ensuing
possession for Stonehill, Duncan drew an offensive foul on Randall
Stallworth, setting up the final shot for the Warriors with the
shot clock off. With 4.7 seconds left in regulation, Duncan drove
to the hoop and dished it to Aaron Strothers (Wareham,
MA), who was fouled as his lay-up rimmed in and out.
Strothers missed the first free throw but made the second, giving
Merrimack the 72-71 lead.
But there were still 4.7 seconds on the clock, and Rudowitz, who
tallied 38 points in the game, drove the length of the court and
hit the game-winner, silencing the Warrior faithful.
Stonehill overcame a 10-point halftime deficit using a 15-4 run to
start the second half capped off with a basket from Rudowitz to
take a 44-43 lead. The lead would change hands eight times in the
second half with neither team leading by more than
Merrimack’s 10-point halftime advantage.
The Warriors took a 39-29 lead to the locker room at halftime
despite 20 points from A.J. Rudowitz. The hosts used an 11-2 run
towards the end of the half, featuring breakaway lay-ins from
Roland Davis (Deer Park, NY) and Duncan to turn a
22-20 lead into a 33-22 advantage. Merrimack forced 14 Skyhawk
turnovers, as Duncan posted a team-best 12 points while
Wayne Mack (Paterson, NJ) added eleven.
Dee Mency (Hagerstown, MD) tallied nine points
coming off three baskets from behind the arc.
Duncan led the Warriors with 25 points on 10-of-16 shooting, while
Mack added 21 on 7-of-13 shooting. Mency finished with 12 points
and seven boards. Merrimack, who made just one three in the second
half on nine attempts and eight of 14 free throws in the final
half, was outrebounded 47-32 in the game, as Rudowitz grabbed a
game-high 15 rebounds.
Matt Hall joined Rudowitz in double figures with 15 points.
Stonehill committed 21 turnovers to just six for the Warriors.
Merrimack (14-4, 10-3 NE-10) is back in action Sunday against Pace
University at the Volpe Gym at 3 p.m.
