Willimantic, CT --- Despite double-double efforts by junior teammates Robert Hunter (St. Louis, MO) and Monte Goodwin (Boston, MA/Belmont, Worcester State lost to the hosting Warriors, 68-48, in the opening round of the Eastern Connecticut tip-off tournament.
The Lancers (0-2) will play SUNY Genesceo in the consolation game at 1 PM on Saturday while Eastern Connecticut entertains St. Joseph's of Long Island at 3 o'clock in the championship.
Hunter would finish with 16 points and 12 rebounds while Goodwin added 11 points and 10 boards. Freshman Charles Gunter (Boston, MA/New Misson) tacked on eight points, six rebounds and a pair of assists.
The Warriors (1-0) were led by the hot hand of sophomore Brian Salzillo (N. Haven, CT) who came off the bench to score 21 points in 20 minutes due in large part to shooting 6-for-12 from the three-point line. Fourth-year Nick Nedwick (Irvington, NY) notched 11 points and classmate Jamie Kohn (Columbia, CT) pitched in with nine caroms.
Following two ties and a pair of lead changes early on, the Eastern Connecticut used a small run midway though the period to take control of the contest. As they nursed a 13-12 advantage at the 12:36 mark after a three-pointer by sophomore Mike Gittens (Uncasville, CT), the hosts would use a 13-4 surge to take over a 26-16 edge six minutes later.
The Lancers would respond by outscoring the Warriors 8-0 to trail by four with 54 seconds left (26-24), but a traditional three point play by Eastern Connecticut junior Brian Gallow (Terryville, CT) made it a 29-22 lead at the intermission.
Entering the second half the Warriors would maintain the three possession advantage eight minutes and led by six at the 10:39 mark (44-38). That was before Eastern Connecticut exploded with 12 points from Salzillo - including three consecutive trey's - for a 16-6 skien and 60-42 advantage with just under five minutes to go.
The Lancers never threatened as the hosts maintained the comfortable margin for the victory.
Eastern Connecticut distributed the ball well with 18 assists for 26 field goal attempts. Despite the setback, Worcester State led in total rebounds (43-34), defensive boards (31-24) and offensive caroms (12-10). WSU also outscored the hosts in second chance scoring, 15-9.
The two squads shot modestly from the field for the contest. The Warriors were 40 percent for the contest (25-for-62) and the Blue and Gold connected for 35 percent of their attempts (20-for-58).
The difference was three point shooting as Eastern Connecticut was eight-for-21 from three point land while the visitors were two-for-nine the game. The host reserves also outmuscled WSU as they held a 41-8 margin in the category.