MADISON, NJ–In one of the greatest college hoops games ever covered by GMC Hoops, FDU-Florham rallied from eight points down with 21.5 seconds to go in regulation to defeat crosstown rival Drew in overtime by the score of 86-80 at the Ferguson Recreation Center on the FDU-Florham campus. After former Rutgers Prep standout, Mike Klinger netted two free throws for a 75-67 lead with 21.5 left, former Bishop Ahr standout, Mike Williamson hit a triple with 12.6 seconds left to close the gap to 75-70.
Following a one of two showing at the line by Drew with 11.6 seconds remaining, Trevor Sykes put the Devils within a possession at 76-73 with 6.5 seconds to go. After an FDU-Florham timeout, and two missed free throws by Drew with 4.2 seconds left, Kevin Furlong buried a 35 footer as time expired to force an overtime. The Devils then outscored the Rangers by a margin of 10-4 in the extra session to come away with the come from behind 86-80 victory. Below are notes from the contest.
Pre-Game Notes
This is an annual rivalry game that has continued despite Drew moving into the Landmark Conference several years ago. Drew had dominated the rivalry in recent years with wins in 2009 and 2010 before FDU-Florham won last year at Drew.
There is a bit more of a GMC flavor to this game than in the past with Mike Williamson (Bishop Ahr) and Mark Gibson (North Brunswick) playing for FDU-Florham and now Keon Rankins (North Brunswick) playing for Drew. In the past, the following players from the GMC played at either Drew or FDU-Florham:
Recent GMC Alumns That Played At Drew or FDU-Florham
- Scott Miller (Piscataway)–Drew
- Travis DeNapoli (Dunellen)–Drew
- Andrew Biancosino (J.P. Stevens)–FDU-Florham
- Nick Shaw (South Amboy)–FDU-Florham
Both teams enter this contest below .500, but Drew is playing a bit better at 3-4. FDU-Florham, which has lost four of five to start the season, fell to Brooklyn on Monday night (73-67) while Drew defeated Bard on Sunday afternoon (65-51). FDU’s only win on the year was a 59-56 decision over King’s College in conference play at home on Saturday. The Devils play in the Freedom Conference.
Trevor Sykes leads FDU-Florham with 13.8 per game while Williamson is averaging 12.4 points per contest. Cranford native, Will Green, is averaging close to a double-double per game at 11.8 points and 9.4 boards per contest. Meanwhile, for the Rangers, Luke Glass leads the team with an average of 15.9 points per game while former Rutgers Prep standout, Mike Klinger is averaging 13.1 points per game.
First Half
15:54–FDU–timeout–Drew on a 7-2 run sparked by a three by Mike Klinger from left wing for a 9-7 lead. FDU took a 5-2 lead on a three from right wing by Mike Williamson. Klinger opened the game with a layup for Drew while Trevor Sykes got FDU on the board with a jumper.
15:45–FDU–calls 2nd timeout.
12:16–Drew–after FDU scored on a layup for an 11-9 lead, Klinger knocked in a three for a 12-11 lead.
7:16–FDU–Williamson layup for a 21-20 Drew lead.
4:58–FDU–makes a couple of free throws to cap a 13-5 spurt for a 30-25 lead.
47.7–FDU–Williamson knocks in three pointer from left wing for a 33-27 lead.
25.0–Drew–gets a layup in transition after a steal for a 33-29 FDU lead.
FDU–leads at half by the score of 33-29.
Five lead changes and four ties in the first half.
FDU–biggest lead of half at five on a couple of occasions.
Williamson–8 points for FDU including two threes.
Klinger–10 points for Drew including two threes.
Second Half
18:05–Drew–basket and foul for a 37-33 FDU lead.
17:47–FDU–Nick Acito knocks down three from left side for a 40-33 lead.
17:46–FDU–Acito down with ankle injury, but is unable to get up after a few moments.
17:00–Drew–Luke Glass hits three from left side for a 40-36 FDU lead
16:33–Drew–Klinger makes three from right side for a 40-39 FDU lead.
16:13–FDU–Matt Hall fouled–makes both FTs for a 42-39 lead.
15:51–Drew–three by Glass from left side for a 42-42 tie.
15:40–FDU–Williamson–fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 43-42 lead.
14:07–Drew–three by Glass from left baseline for a 47-43 lead.
13:51–FDU–timeout after layup by Williamson off assist by Will Green for a 47-45 Drew lead.
12:41–Drew–Glass fouled on three point attempt–makes all three FTs for a 51-45 lead.
12:15–Drew–John Ford–three pointer from right wing for a 54-46 lead.
10:23–Drew calls timeout–after stoppage Green makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 55-49 Drew lead.
10:00–Drew–Klinger makes three from right side for a 58-49 lead.
9:33–Drew–Klinger scores on layup off break for a 60-49 lead.
9:12–FDU–Williamson drives baseline for layup from right low block for a 60-51 Drew lead.
8:14–FDU–Matt Hall scores on putback for a 60-54 Drew lead.
6:56–FDU–Kevin Furlong scores on driving layup for a 62-56 Drew lead.
6:21–Drew–Chris Capelli–fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 63-56 lead.
5:50–FDU–Matt Argudo putback for a 63-58 Drew lead.
5:27–FDU called for blocking foul.–Drew–Klinger makes both FTs for a 65-58 lead.
4:37–Drew–calls full timeout after making 1 of 2 FTs for a 66-58 lead.
4:04–FDU–Argudo scores on putbak of Sykes miss for a 66-60 Drew lead.
3:30–Drew–Ford knocks down three from left corner for a 69-60 lead.
2:46–Drew–30 sec timeout.
2:41–Drew–turnover.
1:45–FDU–Sykes three from top of the key for a 69-63 Drew lead.
1:21–Drew–Klinger fouled–makes both FTs for a 71-63 lead.
1:12–FDU–calls for a full timeout after Sykes makes both FTs for a 71-65 Drew lead. Following timeout–Williamson forces Drew turnover.
50.0–FDU–Williamson misses shot, but hustles and knocks ball off Drew player out of bounds.
24.4–FDU–timeout after Furlong makes both FTs for a 73-67 Drew lead.
21.5–Drew–Klinger–fouled–makes both FTs for a 75-67 lead.
12.5–FDU–Williamson knocks down three from right wing for a 75-70 Drew lead.
11.6–FDU–Williamson fouls out–Drew–Glass–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 76-70 lead.
5.6–FDU–Sykes hits three–Devils call timeout with Drew leading 76-73.
4.2–Drew–Ford–misses both FTs.
0.0–FDU–Furlong hits long three at buzzer to tie score at 76-76.
Overtime
4:37–FDU–Hall fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 77-76 lead.
3:47–FDU–Hall fouled again–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 78-76 lead.
2:00–FDU–Sykes drives in for score after Furlongand an 82-76 lead.
1:58–Drew–timeout.
1:40–Drew–Klinger pulls up for jumper and an FDU 82-78 lead.
42.2–FDU–Acito fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for an 83-78 lead.
21.9–FDU–calls timeout after drawing charge.
20.4–FDU–Hall–fouled–makes both FTs for a 85-78 lead.
12.6–FDU–Argudo–makes 1 of 2 FTs for an 86-78 lead.
6.6–Drew–Ford–fouled makes both FTs for an 86-80 FDU lead.
0.0–FDU–Hall holds on to the ball to run out the clock for the 86-80 win.
Drew had a stretch of 8:14 in the second half where it outscored FDU 27-9 as Glass hit three treys, Klinger netted two, and Ford hit one. Drew had the biggest lead of the game at 11 points at 60-49 after the run. FDU-Florham ended regulation with a 27-16 surge including a 9-1 spurt in the final 21.5 seconds as Williamson, Sykes, and Furlong all hit threes.