College Hoops Summary–December 7, 2011–The Battle Of Madison Avenue–FDU-Florham @ Drew

Ahr’s Williamson Leads Team Effort With 16 Points In Devils 68-51 Victory

MADISON, NJ–On Wednesday night, GMC Hoops traveled through the rain up Interstate 287 North to the outskirts of Morristown again to take in the last edition of the Battle of Madison Avenue between FDU-Florham and Drew University.  This game is always a heated rivalry that brings a big crowd from both schools.  However, within the past couple years the rivalry has become even more heated.

The last two contests between these two schools couldn’t be closer.  While Drew has won both meetings, the games could have gone the other way easily.  Two years again, FDU-Florham, led by the likes of Ricky Fetske and former J.P. Stevens standout, Andrew Biancosino, took it to Drew, but the Rangers overcame the struggles to pull out the win.  Last year, FDU-Florham had a number of opportunities to win, but again Drew found a way to win. This year, former Bishop Ahr standout, Mike Williamson and North Brunswick’s Mark Gibson were hoping to turn the tables for FDU-Florham.

Both teams were off to tough starts coming into this contest.  The Devils of FDU-Florham lost their first three games of the season before winning their conference opener last Wednesday night at home against DeSales.  In that game, Will Green of Cranford collected a double-double of 20 points and 12 rebounds while Williamson came off the bench to hit 4 of 6 shots from three point range, and score 11 of his 16 points in the second half to lead the Devils to a 68-51 victory.  Since then, FDU has lost two straight.  Meanwhile, the Rangers are off to a 2-5 start with victories over both Vaughn (90-49) and Arcadia (85-80) at home.  Drew has lost three straight. including its conference opener against the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (94-87) in double overtime.

Asmar Capers of Bridgewater leads the Rangers in scoring with 20.1 points per game while Green leads the Devils with 14.2 points per game and 10.5 rebounds per game.  Drew and FDU-Florham used to compete in the Freedom Conference until a few years ago when the Rangers moved into the Landmark Conference.  Former GMC players that have played at Drew include Travis DeNapoli of Dunellen and Scott Miller of Piscataway.  Former GMC players that have recently played at FDU-Florham include Nick Shaw as well as Biancosino.

This year, the bragging rights of Madison Avenue went back up the road on Route 124 West to FDU-Florham. The Devils jumped out to a 28-12 lead late in the first half, and didn’t let Drew get any closer than 11 points while leading by as many as 18 in the second half en route to a 68-51 victory. Like last week against DeSales, Williamson came off the bench to score 16 points, but this time it was a more balanced attack. Derek Hall chipped in with 13 points, Adam Katz added 11 points and 6 assists, Green tallied 11 points and 8 rebounds, and Trevor Sykes poured in 10 points. Williamson scored eight points in both halves while Terrell Brown led Drew with 14 points and 5 rebounds while teammate Dara McKeon chipped in with 11 points and 6 rebounds.

The Devils gained the upper hand early by outscoring the Rangers by a 17-10 margin over the first 11:07.  Green, who scored 10 points in the first half, was a force in the low blocks with 6 points while Williamson added a three pointer.  Katz opened the game with a layup while Derek Hall added a putback during the early run.   FDU-Florham was solid with its defense by only allowing four field goals including two threes during this span.  The Devils also drew a charge on Terrell Brown, who scored four of the Rangers points early on, to prevent Drew from pulling within three near the midway mark of the first half.  Following a timeout by the Rangers at the 8:53 mark, FDU-Florham went back to work with a three from the left side for a 20-10 lead, and then drew a charge on the defensive end.

The Rangers began to show signs of frustration, and it resulted in a flagrant foul at the 7:01 mark.  Williamson made it count by making both free throws for a 22-10 lead.  Getting the ball out of bounds, FDU-Florham then added another bucket for a 24-10 lead at the 6:54 mark.  Following a score from Brown, the Devils got another basket, and then two free throws from Trevor Sykes for a 28-12 lead with six minutes to go in the first half.   Drew, which only had 7 field goals including three treys in the first half, didn’t really get going until under three minutes to go in the half.  The Rangers, which also didn’t shot their first free throw until the 2:41 mark, finished the opening period with a 9-4 run including baskets by Brown and Dara McKeon, two pairs of free throws by Evan Elberg, and then a long heave at the buzzer by Hillsborough’s Steve Hydzik that went in for three to close the gap to 32-21 at the intermission.

FDU Florham got off to a good start in the second half with a 12-5 run that included two layups from Hall and threes from Ardell Roberts and Williamson for a 44-26 lead.  Both teams were drawing charges with Drew getting the lion’s share much to the chagrin of Devils coaches, parents, and fans.  North Hunterdon’s Luke Mullaney drained two threes to help pull the Rangers within a dozen again with less than 12 minutes to go, but FDU got a layup, and then another three from the left wing by Williamson for a 49-32 lead with 11:08 to go.  However, the Devils bench was assessed a technical after an FDU student came on to the floor.  Bishop Eustace’s Bobby Falconiero netted the two technical foul shots to pull the Rangers to within 15.

Over the next five minutes, Drew couldn’t get any closer than 14 as Williamson drew a big charge while Katz banked in a three pointer for FDU-Florham’s biggest lead of the game at 56-38.  The Rangers scored the next four points including a three pointer by Massachusetts native, Conor Drew, and one of two free throws by Brown to close the gap to 56-42 with 5:57 left.  Over the next 3:24, the Devils put the game away with a 12-4 spurt that included a three by Sykes, a layin by Williamson, and a three point play by Hall for a 68-46 lead with 2:33 left.  At that point, the Rangers threw in the towel by putting in its reserves, and FDU did likewise.  Drew scored the final five points of the game for another FDU-Florham 68-51 victory.

The win by the Devils was the first over its crosstown rival since 2006-07 when they swept the season series in Freedom Conference play. Going back to the 1999-2000 season, FDU-Florham has won 10 of the last 17 meetings between the two schools. Read the article on the game as well as stats and play-by-play courtesy of the FDU-Florham athletic department web site.