Peterson Shoots AMCATS to ECAC Semifinal

PAXTON, Mass. (02.27.13) – Post-graduate Brad Peterson (North Kingstown, RI) dropped 18 first half points on 8-for-11 shooting, to pace #2 Anna Maria College men's basketball team to an 76-62 victory over #7 Southern Maine University during the quarterfinal round of the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament at The Fuller Activities Center on Wednesday night.

With the win the AMCATS improve to 21-8 and will head to Westfield State University to take on #3 Eastern Connecticut College (20-8) on Saturday afternoon. The Huskies finish the 2013 campaign with a 15-13 record.

Peterson finished the night with a game-high 22 points and nine rebounds while three other teammates joined him in double figures. Senior Anthony Click had the games only double-double. The 2013 GNAC Player of the Year poured in 16 points, grabbed 16 rebounds, had two assists, 2 steals and a block. Junior Joseph Barillo (Dania Beach, FL) contributed 12 points and added a game-high 4 assists while senior Javier Bristol (Haverhill, MA) notched 14 points and pulled down 6 rebounds.

The Huskies were led by freshman Cole Libby who scored a team-high 15 points off the bench. Senior Mike Poulin had 11 points and 7 rebounds while Tyler Penny kicked in 10 points in the loss.

The two teams matched up evenly right from the opening tip-off. With the score notched at 12-all seven minutes in, Peterson converted a three-point play first and then freshman Tyler Delorey (Worcester, MA) and sophomore Hugh Daye (Worcester, MA) each added layups to push the AMCATS lead to 19-12 at the 10:57 mark.

The Huskies responded with a 7-0 stretch of their own. Libby and Penny contributed jumpers and a trey by Brian Alexander tied the game at 19-all just 90 seconds later.

A jumper by Bristol gave AMC a two-point lead (23-21) with just over eight minutes remaining in the half and Anna Maria would never trail again. Anna Maria closed out the half outscoring Southern Maine 17-13 to take a 40-34 lead at intermission.

The AMCATS shot 55% from the field during the half compared to just 44% for the Huskies.

The AMC lead would swell to as many as nine points opening the second half, but once again the Huskies would battle back, a Poulin turnaround jumper at 14:27 would cut the deficit to 48-43. 

The AMCATS responded with determined defense, holding the Huskies to just one basket over the next five minutes. At the ten minute mark, Anthony Click drove the baskets hitting a runner in the lane as time expired on the shot clock building the lead to 59-45.

The AMCAT lead would surge to 17 points and AMC would cruise to the 76-62 victory.

Westfield, the No. 1 seed, will host the ECAC Tournament semifinals and championship games this weekend at the Woodward Center. On Saturday, March 2, Westfield plays No. 4 seed Castleton State College at 1:00 p.m., followed by the other semifinal game between No. 2 Anna Maria College and No. 3 seed Eastern Connecticut State University at 3:00 p.m.