Williams Men’s Basketball Team win's over the Owls of Keene State 81-70
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Saturday’s game marked the first time since the 2000-2001 season that a coach other than Dave Paulsen patrolled the Eph sidelines. Paulsen, who left Williams at the end of last year to take the head coaching job at Division I Bucknell, had a 7-year run with the Ephs that included such highlights as the Ephs’ first Division III national title in basketball in 2002 and national runner-up in 2003.
After a national search was conducted, the 20 years coaching veteran (17 at the Division I level) Maker was introduced in June as Paulsen’s replacement. The new face of Williams basketball liked what he saw during the team’s training trip in Italy over the summer, and he was likewise pleased on Saturday.
“This team has great chemistry,” said Maker, “and my coaching staff and I are really enjoying the opportunity to work with a group of guys that are willing to put the team before the individual.”
Senior co-captain Kevin Snyder led the Ephs in scoring with 24 points on 6 of 9 from the field and 10 of 15 from the free throw line. The three other Ephs tallying double digit points included juniors Blake Schultz (17 points), Joe Geoghegan (13 points), and Ethan Timmins-Schiffman who added 11 points in 22 minutes coming off the bench. Geoghegan also pulled down 11 rebounds to lead the Ephs, and senior Grant Meyer added 8 rebounds as Williams dominated the Owls on the glass, 51 to 35.
In spite of his team’s offensive gusto, Maker cited the Eph’s defense as a key to victory.
“Our defense was very good tonight,” added Maker, “we took four charges which was great, but it was really the collective effort as a group that forced them to take a lot of tough shots, and as a result they shot a pretty low percentage from the floor.”
D3hoops.com preseason All-American Tyler Kathan was tops in scoring for the Owls with 20 points. The senior forward was also the Owls top rebounder with 8 and went 7 of 18 from the field while going a perfect 4 for 4 from the free throw line. However, the career-high 12 points from junior guard Brian O’Leary marked the only other Owl player to score in double figures, as the Ephs’ size and length on defense frustrated a young Keene team.
Despite not scoring for the first 4:39 of the game, Williams took its biggest lead of the half by the 7:26 mark on a jumper from Snyder, and went into the locker room up 37-28 on a Timmins-Schiffman bucket. At two separate occasions in the second half the Ephs were able to push their lead up to as many as 17 points. The Owls made a final push late in the second half with a steal by freshman Cody Snow and a hoop to cut the lead to 7 with just over two minutes to go, but that would be as close as it got as the Ephs hung on to win it 81-70.
Overall, Maker was pleased with his team’s ability to adapt to a new system.
“Anytime a new coach comes in it’s going to be an adjustment for the players as well as the coach’s,” noted Maker, “but we feel very fortunate to have a team full of players that are embracing our philosophy and that are very receptive to coaching, and I anticipate we’ll continue to make great improvements over the next few weeks.”
The Ephs play their home-opener vs. Southern Vermont in the first round of the Williams Invitational on Friday. Game time is set for 8:00 pm.
