SPRINGFIELD, MA – The top-ranked Amherst College men's basketball team wrapped up its 2007 Pioneer Valley Classic slate this afternoon with a 63-51 win over Western New England College on the campus of host Springfield College. The Lord Jeffs extend their unbeaten streak to five games to start the season.
Senior captain Andrew Olson (San Diego, CA) gave Amherst a 3-0 lead with the opening basket of the game, but from that point on in the first half the Lord Jeffs had their hands full with the Golden Bears.
For a fifteen minute stretch beginning at the 17:53 mark of the opening half, Amherst trailed all but a few moments of tied basketball. All season long the Lord Jeffs had played their entire roster, going up to 16 players deep at times. Head coach David Hixon '75 played just eight players in the close game this afternoon though.
Amherst leading scorer Brandon Jones (Hopatcong, NJ) gave the Lord Jeffs a two point lead with 1:41 remaining until halftime on a lay-up off a feed from senior Kevin Hopkins (Greenfield Center, NY). The two centers combined to play 52 minutes, sometimes side-by-side, to try and overpower the undersized WNEC squad.
At the half, Amherst held just a 31-29 lead, the smallest intermission margin for the Lord Jeffs this year. The Lord Jeffs rededicated themselves at the half, and came out of the locker room as a different team.
Amherst rolled off a 15-0 run over the first 6:06 of the second half, led by Olson once again. The senior dished out three assists and buried a three pointer during the run. The spark left Amherst with a game-high 20-point advantage at the 11:59 mark of the second stanza.
WNEC made some small runs in the second half to try and get back into the game, but never closed the gap to single digits. The Jeffs closed out the close game with a 63-51 win, with Olson leading the way offensively playing all 40 minutes.
The senior point guard had 16 points and seven assists on 6-of-7 shooting, including a 4-for-4 day from three-point land. Hopkins was impressive once again with 15 points, five rebounds, and a pair of blocks. Jones chipped in with 10 points and eight boards, while Ryan Hernandez led the Golden Bears with 14 points.
Amherst's Hopkins and Jones were both named to the All-Tournament Team alongside Olson, who was tabbed as the MVP.
The Lord Jeffs improve to 5-0, while WNEC falls to 3-3 on the season. Amherst returns to action on Thursday when they host MIT at 7 p.m.
BOX SCORE
2007 Pioneer Valley Men's Basketball Classic All-Tournament Team
#1 Andrew Olson (MVP) -- Amherst
#44 Kevin Hopkins -- Amherst
#52 Brandon Jones -- Amherst
#23 Kyle Fredette -- WNEC
#22 Ryan Mauer -- Westfield State
#33 John Strawson -- Springfield
