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| Eastern Connecticut athletics photo |
MAHWAH, N.J. – Sophomore guard Tarchee Brown submitted the most outstanding performance in the 75-year history of the Eastern Connecticut State men's basketball program by hitting on 19 of 20 overall shots, and breaking program records with 44 points and ten 3-point field goals in the Warriors' 96-71 victory over host Ramapo in the consolation game of the Ramapo College Roadrunner Tip-Off Tournament Sunday afternoon at the Bradley Center.
Brown converted all 15 of his field goal attempts (including all ten of his 3-point tries) and was 4-of-5 from the free throw line. He broke the school's 59-year-old single-game scoring record of 42 points, set by Hall of Famer Frank Johndrow against Rhode Island College on Feb. 2, 1957. Kris Johnson owned the previous game 3-point record of nine, which he set on Feb. 9, 2006 against Albertus Magnus and which he equaled on Feb. 2, 2008 against UMass Boston.
Entering the season, the NCAA Division III record for consecutive field goals in a game was 18 and the record for consecutive 3-point field goals in a game was 11. The minimum number of makes needed to qualify for the record of 100 percent on 3-point field goals in a game is 11.
Brown was 12-of-12 from the floor (8-of-8 from beyond the arc) and 2-of-2 from the stripe before missing his only attempt in the game: a free throw with 11:07 left and Eastern (2-2) leading, 65-41. The 6-foot-3 inch guard – last year's Little East Conference Rookie-of-the-Year – was 10-of-10 (8-of-8 from 3-point range) from the floor and 1-of-1 from the foul line in scoring 29 points in the first half – one more point than Ramapo -- and 5-of-5 (2-of-2 from downtown) from the floor and 3-of-4 from the stripe en route to 15 second-half points.
In a team-high 33 minutes, Brown also contributed three rebounds, two assists, two blocked shots and two steals, and did not turn the ball over before being lifted with 4:17 left and the Warriors in control, 87-59.
With Eastern leading by nine, Brown outscored Ramapo (2-2) 12-4 over the final three minutes of the first half to give Eastern a 19-point, 47-28 cushion at the break. In the stretch, Brown sank three 3-pointers – completing a four-point play with a free throw with 1:32 left in the half – and dunked for his final points of the half.
Three teammates followed Brown in double figures: senior guard Kevin Leumene – limited to two points in a 72-59 first-round loss to Johnson & Wales on Saturday – responded with 14 points, with senior guard Trachone Preston and junior forward Hugh Lindo adding ten each. Lindo led all players with his second tournament double-double with 11 rebounds. Sparked by Brown, Eastern's four double-figure scorers connected on 28 of 38 field goals.
Brown, named to the all-tournament team prior to the 3 p.m. championship game, averaged 34.5 points and 2.5 rebounds with five steals, four blocks and three assists in two tournament games. Lindo averaged 12.0 points and 13.0 rebounds with five assists, four blocks and four steals and Preston 10.5 points and 3.0 rebounds with 11 assists, three steals and a blocked shot.