Salem, MA --- Zach Karalis (North Andover, MA) drained a 3-pointer with 5.8 seconds remaining (watch) to provide WPI men's basketball with a thrilling 73-71 triumph over Williams in the opening game of the Salem State Holiday Classic. 

WPI, ranked 11th in the most recent D3hoops.com Top 25, has now won a season-best six games in a row and is 9-1 on the season.  Williams, who played in the Division III national championship game last March, was receiving votes in the poll and saw its seven-game winning streak snapped while falling to 7-3.  It was the first time the two programs had met since the Engineers defeated Williams in their own tournament in December of 2005 by the identical 73-71 score. 

Williams scored five straight points, ending with a Mike Greenman (Linwood, NJ) trifecta with 1:41 remaining to transform a 68-64 deficit into a 69-68 advantage.  The Crimson and Gray regained the lead after a mid-range jumper from Sean Doncaster (Medford, MA) with 1:17 left and then received a steal on the ensuing the possession by Aaron Davis (Marshfield, MA).  After a WPI 3-pointer just rimmed out, the Ephs jumped back on top with a put-back layup byRyan Kilcullen (Hingham, MA) with 15 seconds left. 

Forgoing a timeout, WPI rushed the ball into the front court and Davis found a cutting Karalis between the top of the key and right wing, and the junior canned his fifth 3-pointer of the game.  Williams got a good look at the other end but it rimmed out and Karalis grabbed the ball as time expired. 

After a scoreless opening four minutes to start the game, the first half featured three large runs – WPI scoring 11 of the opening 15 points, followed by a 24-9 Williams surge and then a 7-0 WPI run highlighted by two key blocks and five points by Clyde Niba (Atlanta, GA)  The Ephs used aHayden Rooke-Ley (Eugene, OR) trey to take a 31-27 advantage into the locker room at the break. 

WPI improved its shooting drastically in the second half, shooting 53.8% compared to just 22.2% in the first.  The Engineers used a 13-0 spurt, keyed by a pair of three balls by Niba, midway through the second stanza to take a 57-47 edge, the only double-digit advantage for either team on the night.  Williams quickly countered with nine straight points of its own setting up the dramatic ending. 

Karalis finished with 21 points on 5-9 shooting from beyond the arc leading all Engineer scorers.  Niba posted a season-best 16 points while Sam Longwell (Acton, MA) added 11.  Doncaster and Davis teamed up for nine assists and four steals while Chris Rodgers (Franklin, MA) helped out with six points off the bench. 

Wohl led all scorers with 25 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the loss. Rooke-Ley contributed with 17 points for the Ephs. 

The Classic continues Wednesday at Twohig Gymnasium, as WPI faces FDU-Florham in the opening game at 3pm while Williams takes on host Salem State at 5pm.

Click HERE if the videos do not appear below