February 17, 2012

Knights Clip Owls

Clark and Carr nail clutch free throws in closing minutes

Me.-Presque Isle

Vermont Tech

Final

Me.-Presque Isle

Vermont Tech

Jhason Clark (Junior, Albany, NY) and Kevin Carr (Senior, Westminster, MD) are rock solid from the foul line. They proved the point Friday night as each knocked down key free throws in the last minute of play to lead the Knights to a 74-68 victory over USCAA Division I rival University of Maine at Presque Isle.

The two teams battled to a virtual standoff for the first thirty five minutes of the game. The score was 40-39 at half. The Knights opened a six point lead in the second half but the Owls battled back to tie the score. With 5:55 remaining the score was tied 58-58. Carr then scored five unanswered points on a three point shot and a pull up jumper to make the score 63-58 at the 4:18 mark. UMPI's 6'8"Patrick Manifold (15 points overall) sunk a turn around jump shot to cut the lead to three, 63-60. Clark answered with a jumper and a foul shot in the next two positions to put the Knights up six, 66-60 with 1:37 to play. The Owls weren't finished yet. Brad Trask hit a long distance three and Manifold sank a free throw to close the lead to two, 66-64 with 1;25 on the clock.

After a time out, the Knights worked the shot clock during the next possession. The ball went inside to Josh Lindsey (Junior, Palm Bay, FL) as the shot clock wound down. Lindsey was quickly double teamed and slipped the ball to teammate Clark on the opposite block. Clark finished the lay up with 0:55 on the clock to put the Knights up by four, 68-64.

Nineteen seconds later (0:36 seconds remaining) the Owls Lucas Bartlett hit a short jumper to make the score 68-66. The Owls pressed. The Knights broke the press and Jhason Clark was fouled in the frontcourt with 10 seconds on the clock. Clark hit both foul shots to put the Knights up 70-66. The Owls attempted one more three point shot. Kevin Carr rebounded and was immediately fouled. Carr sank both free throws to put the game out of reach, 72-66 with only a few seconds remaining. Aaron Hutchins answered with an undefended basket. The Owls fouled Carr on the next inbounds possession as time expired. Carr hit both free throws to make the final score 74-68.

Carr finished the game with 32 points. Clark added 15 points and Josh Lindsey had 14 points. Brad Trask was high man for UMPI with 19 points while Patrick Manifold had 15 points and Aaron Hutchins had 14 points.