| DaQuan Brooks has scored 30
or more points eight times this season. Western Connecticut State file photo |
Senior DaQuan Brooks reached a career milestone Tuesday night, surpassing 2,000 total points for his career as Western Connecticut men’s basketball topped in-state rival Connecticut College 78-62 at Feldman Arena. Brooks finished with 47 points on 17-for-27 shooting on the night.
Also scoring in double figures for Western was senior Gary Robinson with 10 points, while Brooks nearly recorded a double-double finishing with a game-high nine rebounds.
Sophomore Matt Vadas came off the bench to lead Connecticut College with 36 points on 12-for-20 shooting, and also led the Camels on the boards with seven rebounds.
Both teams started the game out cold offensively trading turnovers and shots for the first three minutes. Robinson finally got the Colonials going with a three pointer from just in front of the visitor’s bench 3:10 into the half. Western continued on a slight run, hitting its next four shots to jump out to a 10-3 run with just under 16 minutes left to play. Following a quick time out from coach Tom Satran, the Camels collected themselves and put together a small run of their own, narrowing the Colonial lead. However, the story of the first half was Brooks scoring 27 of his final 47 points on 10-for-15 shooting, as the Colonials took a 43-32 lead into the half.
Western started the second half with the hot hand, extending their lead to 15 points just five minutes into the period. As the second half progressed, the Camels found a way to scratch their way back, narrowing the Colonial lead to 11 points with a little over three minutes left to play. On the Colonials’ next possession, Brooks drove the lane, hitting the layup for his 2,000th point, and was fouled in the process. After a standing ovation from the Feldman Arena crowd, Brooks converted the free throw, and added a three-pointer 20 seconds later to finish with 47 on the night. Western’s defense then held the Camels down the stretch for a 78-62 final margin of victory.
For the game, Western held a 37-35 advantage in rebounds and a 17-5 edge in assists. Western finished shooting 43.3 percent from the floor and 46.2 percent from the line, while Connecticut College finished 43.8 percent and 75 percent, respectively.
With the win, Western improves to 16-4 on the season, while Connecticut College falls to 6-14.