PISCATAWAY, NJ–The finale of the GMC Hoops Freshmen, JV, and Varsity triple header on Thursday night was a rematch between the Bears and Chiefs. The Bears ended the first half with a 9-0 run, and then put together a 16-12 showing in the third quarter including a putback by Jake Krantz for a 43-30 lead heading into the fourth. Piscataway rallied with a 19-9 tear including two threes by Tajae Sharpe and a three point play by Marcus Freeney to close the gap to 52-49, but Joey Ross and Abu Bestawros wrapped up the win with a pair of free throws for a 56-49 victory. Below is the play-by-play from the game.
First Quarter
7:40–EB–Joey Ross scores on baseline jumper from right side for a 2-0 lead.
6:17–PWAY–Vik Singh is fouled–makes both FTs for a 2-2 tie.
5:55–PWAY–Byron Benjamin draws charge on Amir Bell.
5:27–EB–Gary Baumer draws charge on Marcus Freeney.
4:58–EB–Amir Bell scores layup while being fouled for a three point play, and a 5-2 lead.
4:06–PWAY–turnover.
2:13–PWAY–Jelani Jackson gets on the floor for loose ball–tied up–jump ball–P-Way keeps possession.
2:02–PWAY–Greg Davis kicks out to Vik Singh for three pointer and a 5-5 tie.
1:09–EB–Ukawuba fakes up at left elbow, passes for a cutting Jake Krantz, but the ball goes out of bounds.
49.2–PWAY–Davis drives in for layup while being fouled, and makes bonus FT for an 8-5 lead.
29.8–EB–Rob Ukawuba knocks in three pointer from the top of the key for an 8-8 tie.
0.0–PWAY–Thaddeus Dalton gets offensive rebound off missed jumper, but is unable to get off a follow…8-8 tie after one.
Both teams have three field goals including a three pointer and a conventional three point play.
PWAY–Singh–5 points, Davis–3 points
EB–Ukawuba–3 points, Bell–3 points, Ross–2 points
Second Quarter
6:47–PWAY–Marcus Freeney scores on layup for a 10-8 lead.
6:39–EB–Ukawuba connects on jumper for a 10-10 tie.
6:15–EB–basket by Ukawuba for a 12-10 lead.
5:58–PWAY–Donovan Kirkland scores layup for a 12-12 tie.
5:49–PWAY–30 sec timeout.–EB–Ukawuba–makes both FTs for a 14-12 lead.
5:34–PWAY–David White nets jumper from the left baseline for a 14-14 tie.
5:19–EB–turnover.
4:56–PWAY–Freeney gets amongst the trees to tap in putback off miss by Singh for a 16-14 lead.
4:06–EB–Bell dishes to Abu Bestawros for a layup from the right low block and a 16-16 tie.
3:48–PWAY–Freeney drains triple from right wing for a 19-16 lead.
3:18–EB–30 sec timeout.
2:47–EB–Ukawuba connects on triple from right wing for a 19-19 tie.
2:14–EB–Bell picks up steal, and tries to go the length of the court for a layup, but Jo Jo Hoover blocked his shot.
2:07–EB–Ukawuba scores on layup for a 21-19 lead.
1:28–EB–Bell draws foul–makes both FTs for a 23-19 lead.
0:58–EB–Ross fouled, and makes both FTs for a 25-19 lead.
EB ends half with a 9-0 run
PWAY–Freeney–7 points, Kirkland–2 points, White–2 points.
EB–Ukawuba–11 points, Bestawros–2 points, Bell–2 points, Ross–2 points.
EB–Ukawuba–14 points at half including two threes.
PWAY–Freeney–7 points, Singh–5 points at half.
Third Quarter
7:39–EB–Bell gets steal, and is tied up–jump ball–EB possession.
6:46–PWAY–timeout–follows Bell hustling and scrapping for loose ball, and passing upcourt to Ukawuba, who dishes to Bestawros for a layup, and a 27-19 lead.
6:17–PWAY–Davis drives into the paint, and connects on a floater for a 27-21 EB lead.
6:03–EB–Bell draws foul–makes both FTs for a 29-21 lead.
5:48–EB–Ukawuba scores on layup for a 31-21 lead.
5:39–PWAY–Tajae Sharpe sinks short baseline jumper from left side for a 31-23 EB lead.
4:59–PWAY–Freeney reaches back and puts back miss by Benjamin for a 31-25 EB lead.
4:02–PWAY–Freeney scores on baseline jumper from left side for a 31-27 EB lead.
3:47–EB–Garry Baumer drains a triple for a 34-27 lead.
3:04–EB–Bestawros gets offensive rebound, and dishes to a cutting Ukawuba for a layup, and a 36-27 lead.
2:53–PWAY–traveling.
2:21–EB–Danny Leung swipes steal, but is unable to score–ball goes out of bounds to EB.
1:36–EB–Ukawuba–fouled–makes both FTs for a 38-27 lead.
1:31–PWAY–turnover.
1:04–EB–Ukawuba–passes to Joey Ross for three pointer from right wing, and a 41-27 lead.
43.0–PWAY–Davis hits three pointer for a 41-30 EB lead.
0.0–EB–crashes the boards for 4 offensive rebounds that results in a putback by Jake Krantz for a 43-30 lead after three.
Fourth Quarter
7:49–PWAY–Singh sinks jumper just inside the arc for a 43-32 EB lead
7:15–PWAY–Freeney is fouled–makes both FTs for a 43-34 EB lead.
7:03–EB–Ukawuba drives and kicks to Bestawros for baseline jumper from right side and a 45-33 lead.
6:23–PWAY–Sharpe connects on a three pointer from top of the key for a 45-37 EB lead.
6:09–EB–30 sec timeout–follows offensive rebound and follow attempt by Leung, who is fouled, and makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 46-37 lead.
5:50–PWAY–Sharpe sinks triple from left corner for a 46-40 EB lead.
5:10–PWAY–Freeney banks in a floater as he was fouled for a traditional three point play, and a 46-43 EB lead.
4:58–PWAY–deflects ball out of bounds.
4:43–EB–traveling.
4:33–PWAY–calls timeout.
4:19–PWAY–Freeney fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 46-44 EB lead.
3:45–EB–basket for a 48-44 lead.
3:15–PWAY–Sharpe swipes steal following miss by Singh, and is fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 48-45 EB lead.
2:33–EB–Ross swipes steal, and scores on layup for a 50-45 lead.
2:30–PWAY–steps out of bounds–turnover.
2:27–EB–Bestawros scores on layup off inbounds for a 52-45 lead.
1:46–PWAY–Freeney scores on putback, and is fouled…52-47 EB.
1:31–EB–timeout–follows Singh putback of missed bonus FT by Freeney for a 52-49 EB lead.
1:17–EB–turnover.
1:09–PWAY–turnover.
1:00–EB–Bell loses handle, scramble ensues, he gets the ball–EB calls timeout. Â Following the timeout–Ukawuba is unable to inbound the ball–Bears have to call another timeout.
29.8–EB–After Baumer gets his own rebound off a missed three–Ross is fouled and makes both FTs for a 54-49 lead.
19.0–EB–After Davis missed a three from the right corner, Ukawuba is fouled, but misses front end of one and one.
6.7–EB–Bestawros is fouled and makes both FTs for a 56-49 lead
EB wins 56-49.