Nashua, NH – Senior all-tournament selection Chris Hanson (Salem, Mass.) notched a game-high 20 points burying six three-pointers and fellow senior forward Eric Suarez (Brooklyn, N.Y.) tallied a double double with 16 points and a game-high 11 rebounds guiding Daniel Webster past Bard College, 79-61 in the consolation of the Rivier College All Metals Industries/Coca Cola Tip Off Saturday afternoon at the Muldoon Center.
Hanson fell just one three short of tying his career high while Suarez was a perfect 7 of 7 from the floor while adding three assists as the Eagles (2-1) ran away from a close first half by shooting a blistering 62-percent in the second frame.
It was only the third ever meeting between the two programs and first since 1995.
Chris Voukides (Salem, N.H.) rebounded from a tough Friday night outing to notch 13 points including two threes and added six rebounds while Keith Speed (Columbus, Ohio) chipped in with 11 points, four assists and two steals.
Rookie Daris Cosby (Columbia, S.C.) added seven points and five boards and sophomore John Hickson (Springfield, Mass.) notched six points and grabbed six boards off the bench.
Bard (0-3) was paced by 14 points, three assists and three steals from Christian Marghella while Matt Shubert scored 13 and Jeremy Arnstein had 12. Lamar Powell chipped in with 10 while Frank Sortini pulled in 10 rebounds.
The Eagle offense sputtered over the opening 12 minutes and trailed 28-20 before ending the final 1:50 of the half with an 11-0 tear that included two treys from Hanson, a jumper from Cosby and a buzzer-beating three from the deep left corner by Hickson that gave DWC a 31-28 lead at the break. It was only their second lead of the game.
The momentum shift carried into the opening minutes of the second with the Eagles opening on an 11-4 run including two inside moves from Jonathan Smalls (Deer Park, N.Y.) to help open up 42-34 lead and the Eagles never let the Raptors closer than six down the stretch.
DWC would finish with a 42-28 advantage on the glass and combined for 12 three-pointers overall while Bard would go just 6 for 25 from deep.
The Eagles return to action Tuesday night hosting Fisher College in a NCAA-NAIA crossover matchup beginning at 7:00 p.m.