MEDFORD, Mass. (info taken from a Tufts University press release) -- The Brandeis University men's basketball team suffered a 78-47 loss at the hands of Babson College today in the opening round of the 2013 New England Big Four Challenge at Tufts University. In the defeat, just the second-ever in Big Four play for the Judges, Brandeis scored nearly half of their 89.8 point-per-game average entering the game. Brandeis falls to 5-2 on the season, while Babson moves to 6-1. The Judges will face the host Jumbos in the consolation game Sunday at 1 p.m., while the Beavers take on Salem State for their first Big Four title at 3 p.m.
The Judges never led in the contest, as Babson opened the game on a 12-2 run in the first four minutes. The Judges moved to within four using an 8-2 run, thanks to back-to-back 3-pointers from rookie Robinson Vilmont (Cambridge, Mass./Wilbraham and Monson Acad.) and senior Gabriel Moton (St. Petersburg, Fla./St. Petersburg), but they could get no closer. Later in the half, Babson's largest lead was 15 at 30-15. Freshman forward Joey Flannery (Acton, Mass.) scored 19 points in the first half for the Beavers to lead them to an 11-point lead, 41-30, at halftime.
Babson shot 14 of 27 (52%) in the first half while holding Brandeis to just 11 of 31 (31%).
Senior guard Kenny Ross (Furlong, Pa.) dropped in 11 first-half points for Babson, making all three of his three-point attempts. Moton was 4-for-6 shooting in the first half for the Judges, for a team-high 10 points.
Babson pulled away early in the second half, building its lead to 18, 52-34, after a three-point basket by junior forward John Wickey (Manchester, N.H.). The closest Brandeis would get the rest of the way was 13, 52-39. The Beavers' biggest advantage of the game came at 78-45.
Flannery finished with 33 points on 12 of 15 shooting. He also grabbed five rebounds and was 8 for 8 from the charity stripe. Ross scored 13 points total with four assists and junior forward Eric Dean (Gilford, N.H.) added 12 points and nine rebounds.
Moton led the Judges with 12 points, while Vilmont reached double-digits with 10 points.
Babson finished shooting 50% (28-56) from the field. Brandeis ended the contest at 33.3% (17-51). The Beavers out-rebounded the Judges, 43-33. The Judges also struggled from the free-throw line, hitting just 38.5% (10-26).