Bowdoin Tops Fitchburg State, 81-51

Graham and London combine for 24 in first round of Eastern Tip-Off

WILMANTIC, Conn. (November 20, 2009) - The Fitchburg State men's basketball team suffered its second loss of the season, falling to Bowdoin College, 81-51 in the first round of the Eastern Tip-Off Tournament this evening.

Senior captain Tim Graham (Arlington, Mass./Arlington) and senior Colin London (Worcester, Mass./Doherty) led all Falcon scorers with 12 points apiece, while freshman Blake Sheldon (Westminster, Mass./Oakmont) added 11 points to go with six rebounds and four steals.

Bowdoin sophomore Will Hanley (New Canaan, Conn./New Canaan) led all players with a game-high 17 points (7-of-9) and nine rebounds, while classmate Justin Norwell (Cos Cob, Conn./Brunswick School) added 14, shooting 4-of-6 from the field and 5-of-7 from the free-throw line. Sophomore Ryan O'Connell (Ipswich, Mass./St. John's Prep) and senior Mark Phillips (Ashland, Mass./Ashland) rounded out the Polar Bears' top scorers with 12 points and 11 points respectively.

Bowdoin jumped out to an early ten point lead using a 15-5 run to open the contest. Hanley led the Polar Bears' rally with six points in the stretch while O'Connell and Paul Sellew (Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury) each added a bucket. Fitchburg State came within five moments later with a three by Sheldon, but the Polar Bears offense took over, posting an 18 point lead at the break.

Throughout the second half, Bowdoin maintained its double-digit lead as Phillips netted eight of his 11 points in the frame. The Polar Bears rifled off an 18-6 run midway through the half and went up by as much as 31 to collect their first victory of the season. Sheldon led the Falcons second half attack with eight points, while London and Graham each tallied seven.

Fitchburg State (0-2, 0-0 MASCAC) will be in action again tomorrow as it takes on Purchase College in the consolation round of the Eastern Tip-Off Tournament at 1 p.m.  . Bowdoin (1-0, 0-0) will face Eastern Connecticut State tomorrow at 3 p.m. for the Tip-Off Championship.

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 Bowdoin 81, Fitchburg State 51