Dec 01, 2019
NEW LONDON, Conn. -- Sophomore forward Sharown Fowler (Springfield, MA) came off the bench for career-highs of 18 points and seven rebounds in 20 minutes and the Eastern Connecticut State University men's basketball team built an 18-point halftime lead on the way to an 81-66 non-conference win over Connecticut College Sunday afternoon at Luce Fieldhouse.
Playing its fourth road game in five contests this year, Eastern (2-3) outscored Conn (2-4) 23-6 over the final seven minutes of the first half to move out to a 42-24 halftime lead. Over those final seven minutes, Eastern connected on ten of 16 field goals and had three steals without a turnover.
In the first half, senior guard Jake Collagan (Wethersfield) and Fowler converted nine of 12 field goals for a combined 20 points, with senior forward Jake McCarthy (Berlin) grabbed five of his game total of seven rebounds in the half. Collagan was 5-of-7 from the floor for 12 points and Fowler 4-of-5 for eight points over the first 20 minutes. Behind Collagan and Fowler, Eastern sank 60 percent of its first-half tries from the floor while Conn managed just 28 percent.
In the game, the Warriors outscored the hosts 75-47 from the floor. The Camels outscored Eastern by 19-6 from the foul line but were outscored by 12 from distance.
Collagan and junior guard Cory Muckle (Westbrook) closely followed Fowler in scoring. Collagan had 17 points to go along with eight assists and three rebounds and Muckle totalled 16 points, six assists and two rebounds. Sophomore point guard Thomas Close (East Hampton) had 12 points (5-of-7 from the floor) and six rebounds and turned the ball over only once in 36 minutes.
Eastern turned the ball over only nine times -- its third game this year of less than ten.
Eastern opens its Little East Conference schedule Wednesday at Western Connecticut State University at 7:30 p.m.