Ephs Get Past Kean in Final Seconds, 65-62

WILLIAMSTOWN, MASS. (1/3/09) - Harlan Dodson drained a free throw with 4.6 seconds left Saturday to snap a tie and help the Williams College men's basketball team defeat Kean University, 65-62, in the championship game of the Purple & Gold Invitational.

The Cougars fell to 6-7 despite the efforts of Vinnie Darpino (Colonia, N.J.) (pictured right) with a game-high 17 points and Akinwande Oshodi (Florence, N.J.) who had 15 points. Both were named to the all-tournament team.

KU led by as many as 14 points in the first half before the Ephs rallied to take a 38-36 lead at halftime.

"Kean dictated the tempo all game long," said Ephs head coach Mike Maker. "They were very well coached and had a lot of skill."

Kean held a 59-53 lead after Brian Lytle (Union, N.J.) knocked down a foul line jumper with 5:35 to go, but the Ephs scored seven straight points to take a one-point lead with exactly three minutes to go.

The Cougars answered once again when Lytle put-back an offensive rebound as he was fouled and drained the ensuing free throw for a 62-60 lead with 2:24 remaining. With 1:45 to go, the Ephs ripped a rebound out of a Cougars hand, gained control and knocked down a 14-foot jumper to tie things at 62.

It stayed that way until Williams' gained possession off a Cougar miss.

With 4.6 seconds to go, Williams hit the second of two free throws to go ahead for good.  Kean's ensuing in-bounds pass went out of bounds, and Blake Schultz then drained two free throws with 2.6 seconds to go for a three-point lead.

Lytle (pictured left) finished with nine points and seven rebounds.

All-Tournament team: Blake Schultz, Williams (MVP); Kevin Snyder, Williams; Akinwande Oshodi, Kean; Vinnie Darpino, Kean; Sam Simmons, RPI.