STEVENS OUTLASTS CONVAL

By TYLER MAHEU
Eagle Times Correspondent
CLAREMONT – The three pointers fell early and often for the ConVal Cougars, but an excellent offensive output from Senior Drew Grenier gave the Cardinals a tight victory, 50-44.

Both teams made it clear that they wanted to play a fast paced style from the start, as ConVal took some early Cardinals turnovers and turned them into fastbreak opportunities. “Give credit to ConVal, they play great on-ball defense,” said Stevens Head Coach Matt Baird-Torney. “They can switch on everything, they forced us into doubles and down onto the baseline.” Unfortunately for the Cougars, these fastbreaks often turned into missed layups as they struggled to finish around the rim.

The two squads struggled to score at first, as the Cougars did not get their first bucket until there were four minutes and thirty seconds remaining in the first. Once they scored, they did not stop however, led by Sophomore Connor Buffum, who dropped a a team high 22 points, most of which came from beyond the three point arc. After one, Stevens led 11-10.

While the Cardinals defense worked to keep the Cougars away from the rim, that opened up the three point shot. “We played a sliding 3-2 zone,” said Baird-Torney. “Our wings dropped to take the middle, they are just really good at kickouts.” The 3-2 led to open looks outside all night for ConVal.

Luckily for Stevens, their offense was firing on all cylinders, and kept growing their lead. They did this largely on the back of Grenier, who tied for the game lead with 22 points and fell one rebound shy of a double-double. He slashed through the lane all night, as the Cougars seemed to have the opposite defensive problem of the Cardinals, as they protected the wing and not the paint. The Cardinals increased their lead going into the half, 22-18.

Both teams offenses soared in the third, almost doubling their scoring outputs from the first half in one period and the Cardinals led 40-34 after three.

The fourth quarter came down to execution for Stevens. While the Cougars hung around the entire period, the Cardinals always seemed to have an answer. No shots in the quarter were bigger than a three pointer from Junior Derrick Stanhope with just around three minutes left to give Stevens an eight point lead.

Then, Stevens ate the clock. They spread the floor expertly in the closing minutes, running precious seconds off with each possession. “We go through those situations in practice,”said Baird-Torney. “Spread them out and find the open guy.”

Late chippiness from ConVal extended the game, but they would ultimately fall 50-44.

The win brings the Cardinals to 9-7 on the season going into an important contest with 13-2 Hopkinton.