WORCESTER -- Eastern Connecticut State senior Tarchee Brown (Rockville, CT) was named Most Valuable Player as the Warriors defeated host WPI, 78-68, in the championship game of the Ted Coghlin Memorial Men's Basketball Tournament Saturday in Harrington Auditorium.

With the win, ECSU improves to 2-0 and the Engineers dip to 1-1 on the young season.

Brown posted game-bests of 20 points, eight assists and six rebounds Friday night versus Dean and added 14 points and five rebounds against the Boynton Hillers on Saturday.

Sophomore Jake Collagan (Wethersfield, CT) went off for 26 points in 27 minutes off the bench. Sophomore Carlos Gonzalez (Springfield, MA) delivered 15 points, including a 10-for-10 performance at the free throw line, and handed out seven assists.  

Sophomore Jake Wisniewski (West Brookfield, MA) and freshman Reid Walker (Lithia, FL) combined for 25 of the Engineers points while Walker came up a rebound short of his first double-double.

The Engineers were up 15-0 before Collagan hit a layup to get the guests on the board. The Warriors began to whittle the deficit and were down 35-30 at the break.

Brown's layup and a 3-pointer by senior Kendall Marquez (Willimantic, CT) evened up the score at 35-35 nearly two minutes into the second. After two more ties, ECSU took the lead for the remainder of the game when sophomore Jake McCarthy (Berlin, CT) hit a layup at 16:08. Wisniewski's layup and a free throw by senior Chris Rodgers (Franklin, MA) cut the guests lead to one at 13:49.

Collagan pushed the lead to 13 twice down the stretch before the teams decided on 10.

The Warriors enjoyed a 27-15 margin in points off turnovers and 42-23 cushion in bench points. WPI held the advantages in the paint (40-34) and second chance points (12-4).

The Engineers head to Worcester State Tuesday for a 7pm start while ECSU heads to Conn College for a 7:30pm tip.

Russell Guides Dean to First Win of Inaugural NCAA Campaign

WORCESTER – Junior Dayvon Russell (Naugatuck, CT) dropped 28 points, including the last five, as Dean claimed its first victory in its first full season of NCAA Division III men's basketball action with an 89-86 triumph over UMaine Farmington Saturday afternoon in the consolation game of WPI's Ted Coghlin Memorial Tournament.

Trailing 84-82 with 2:10 left in the second half, sophomore Josh Croskey (Union, NJ) hit a layup to tie the game. After sophomore Issac Witham's (Smithfield, RI) layup at 1:40, Russell canned a triple for the 87-86 lead with 1:16 to play, and then a pair of free throws with 19 seconds left. The Beavers late bid caromed off the rim and into the hands of sophomore Jordan Booker (Waterbury, CT), who finished with 18 points, five rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block.

Junior Randolf Thurman (Swampscott, MA) handed in double digit points for the second consecutive game, this time with a dozen to go with five rebounds and five helpers. Junior Armani Baker (North Providence, RI) and Croskey combined for 17 boards.

Four of the UMaine Farmington starters handed in double digit scoring performances. Junior Milani Hicks (Scarborough, ME) and sophomore Riley Robinson (Dixfield, ME) each posted 21 as Witham followed with 19 and senior Eric Berry (Weld, ME) with 10. Sophomore Bill Ruby (Gorham, ME) was the Beavers best rebounder with seven defensive boards.

Dean had the advantages off turnovers (17-14), second chance points (12-9), fast break points (12-10) and bench points (17-11). UMaine Farmington scored 10 more in the paint (48-38).

The Bulldogs host Fisher Tuesday night for a 7pm tip while the Beavers welcome Saint Joseph's (ME) at 7:30pm, also on Tuesday.