Brandeis Men's Basketball Routs Curry in Home Opener, 111-59

Gabriel Moton '14 (Photo by Sportspix.biz/Mike Broglio)
Gabriel Moton '14 (Photo by Sportspix.biz/Mike Broglio)

WALTHAM, Mass.- The Brandeis University men's basketball team opened the season with a bang at Red Auerbach Arena, scoring their most points since the 1994-95 season and their most under Coach Brian Meehan in a 111-59 rout of Curry College Colonels. The 52 point margin of victory is their largest since 110-45 over Suffolk University during the 1954-55 campaign.

In the first half, the Colonels stayed close and cut the Judges lead to 11-8 on a pair of free throws by senior guard Lambros Papalambros (Quincy, Mass./Archbishop Williams). From there, Brandeis took over led by senior captains Ben Bartoldus (Hillsborough, N.H./Proctor Acad. (N.H.) and Derek Retos (No. Attleboro, Mass./Brimmer and May School). With 15:04 remaining in the period, Bartoldus began a 17-0 stretch by draining a 3-pointer and then converting an old fashioned three point play after an acrobatic lay-up. Retos ended the dominating run with back-to-back trifectas to give the Judges a 28-8 lead. Brandeis continued to pour it on throughout the half as three Judges finished the period in double-digits. Retos led the way with 15 points, Bartoldus had 12, and rookie guard Robinson Vilmont (Cambridge, Mass./Wilbraham and Monson Acad.) scored 10 points in the first 20 minutes of his collegiate career. Brandeis took its largest lead into the break when senior forward Connor Arnold's (Andover, Mass./Deerfield Acad.) lay-up made it 62-31.

The second half provided more of the same for a raucous crowd. The Judges continued to build their lead behind even scoring, excellent passing, and a strong defense that forced 15 turnovers and produced six blocks. Some highlights from the final 20 minutes came courtesy of sophomore forward Kevin Trotman (Bristol, Conn./Taft School). After turning the ball over, Trotman raced back on defense and flew through the paint for an emphatic rejection that brought the crowd to its feet. About two minutes later, Trotman provided another one for the highlight reel when he received the ball on the right wing, drove down the baseline, and threw down a monstrous reverse slam.

Brandeis featured six players in double-figures while every player who entered the game made it onto the score sheet. Bartoldus and Retos each finished with 15, Vilmont had 13, senior guard Gabriel Moton (St. Petersburg, Fla./St. Petersburg) scored 12, junior forward Ishmael Kalilou (Windsor, Conn./Taft School) contributed 11 off the bench, and senior forward Alex Stoyle (Goffstown, N.H./Tilton School) netted 10 points. Moton finished with a double-double after pulling down a game-high 12 rebounds. He also led the squad with five assists and recorded a block. Stoyle had a game-high three blocks while sophomore guard Colby Smith (No. Andover, Mass./No. Andover) led the team with three steals.

The Colonels featured three scorers in double-figures including a game-high 17 points from rookie guard Kenneth Ramos (Dorchester, Mass./Dorchester Acad.). Papalambros and rookie guard Stephen O'Neal (Roxbury, Mass./Brookline) joined Ramos in double-figures with 14 points apiece. Papalambros also led Curry with six rebounds and two blocks. Ramos swiped a game-high four steals.

The Judges continue their season on Tuesday November 19th at UMass-Dartmouth with a 7:00 p.m. tip-off. The Colonels host WPI for their home opener on Tuesday November 19th at 7:00 p.m.