Framingham, Mass.- Framingham State University senior Patrick Cuff (Medway, Mass.) sank a hook shot with under one second remaining to give the Rams a 62-60 lead and propel them to victory over Elms College Saturday afternoon in Framingham. The Rams improve to 5-5 and the Blazers fall to 3-6.
The Blazers took an early advantage leading 23-16 with seven minutes to go in the first half. The Rams called a timeout before their next possession and then broke off a 15-2 run capped off by a Tony Alexandre (Hyde Park, NY) basket with just over a minute to play in the first period.
The Blazers cut the deficit to one point, heading into the break with the score 31-30 in favor of the Rams.
Framingham State came out of the break slowly expanding on their lead. The Rams found themselves up 48-36 with 13:45 to go but they would see that lead slip away. Elms' Tim Putnam (Windsor Locks, Conn.) hit a trey and made all three free throws after he was fouled on the next Blazer possession to cut the lead to 49-44 with just over eleven minutes to play.
The teams continued to trade baskets then the Blazers made their push with just over three minutes to go. DaQuian Youngblood (Brooklyn, NY) hit a jumper to cut the lead to 55-54. The Blazers got the ball back and Putman sank another three and was fouled. He completed the back end of the four point play to give the Blazers a 58-55 advantage with 2:48 to play.
The Rams convert two free throws and get a stop to set up a Joe McCabe (Canton, Mass.) three pointer to put the Rams back in control 60-58. Elms' Youngblood converts his two free throws with 58 seconds remaining to tie the score. The Rams miss two attempts in their end, the Blazers drive down the court with under ten seconds to play and have a shot blocked by Alexandre. Ehe Rams are awarded possession when the ball goes out of bounds off an Elms player.
The Rams quickly inbound the ball and call a timeout with 1.7 seconds remaining to set up and inbounds play from the far sideline. The play works perfectly as the Rams player feeds Cuff who hits a floating hookshot as time expires.
Cuff finished with 9 points and 14 rebounds and McCabe was the leading scorer for the Rams with 15 points.
Putnam led the Blazers with 15 points with 13 coming in the second frame.
Both teams are off until after the New Year. Elms will host Babson on January 3rd and the Rams will travel to UMass- Boston on January 6th.