November 28, 2006
– Men’s Basketball
Fords Fall to Mules 77-71 in Centennial Opener
ALLENTOWN, PA – Host Muhlenberg College (2-2
overall, 1-0 Centennial) shot 50% from the floor in the game en
route to a 77-71 victory over visiting Haverford College (0-4,
0-1) Tuesday evening in the Centennial Conference men’s
basketball season opener. Haverford set a team program record
(minimum 20 attempts), making 25 of 26 (96.2%) attempted free
throws. Senior forward Ray Brown led the Fords with his second
straight 20 point performance, totaling 21 points on 8-11 shooting
from the floor along with five rebounds in the losing effort.
The Fords and Mules started the game neck and neck, as Haverford
took a 10-9 lead into the first 5:26 of the contest, highlighted
by co-captain Ray Brown’s six points early on. However,
Brown found himself in early foul trouble, collecting two fouls
in the opening minutes. The Mules went on a 14-2 run over the
next 9:56 after Brown temporarily left the game to take a 23-12
lead. Haverford followed the Mules run with a 7-0 run over the
next 1:30 to pull within 23-19 with 4:08 left in the first half.
Muhlenberg drew a little more breathing room into the halftime
intermission, and led the Fords 34-27 at the break.
The Mules broke the game open right out of the gates in the second
half, helped by hot shooting in the start the period with a 19-8
run over the first 6:02 of the half to take a 53-35 lead. The
Fords started to climb back into the game later into the second
half. With a 62-49 edge with 6:31 to go in the game, Muhlenberg
called a timeout. After the timeout, the Fords went on a 10-4
run over the next 2:41 to close the deficit to 66-59. With 2:35
remaining, Brown was fouled after making a lay up, and made the
free throw to complete the three-point play, closing the Mules
lead to 66-62. The teams exchanged buckets until the score went
to 70-66 in favor of Muhlenberg. After Muhlenberg’s Brendon
Mefford hit his only two point jump shot of the game from the
floor, Haverford sophomore guard Chaz Thomas drained a three-pointer
to pull Haverford within three points at 72-69 with 34.7 seconds
left on the clock. The two teams exchanged points on their next
possessions to make the score 74-71 in Muhlenberg’s favor
with 15.6 seconds remaining. Mules guard Chris Huber was fouled
with 13.3 seconds left on the clock and hit two free throws en
route to the 77-71 win.
Haverford was held to 27.3% shooting in the first half, while
Muhlenberg shot 50.0% from the floor in both halves.
The Fords offense was also paced by senior guard Mike Fratangelo
and sophomore guard Chaz Thomas, who tallied 12 and 11 points,
respectively.
The Mules were led by Huber’s game-high 26 points on 9-15
shooting. Jimmie Riggins also had 14 points and a game-high nine
rebounds in the Mules win.
The Fords broke their previous made free throw attempt record,
set on 1/26/05 when Haverford made 26-28 attempts (92.9%).
Haverford returns to action on Saturday with
a 7:00 p.m. game at Gooding Arena against Centennial foe Gettysburg.
