CHESTERTOWN, Md. – The Swarthmore College men's basketball team bounced back with a 72-47 victory at Washington College in a Centennial Conference contest on Wednesday night. The Garnet swept the season series against the Shoremen and locked up a Centennial playoff berth in the process.
The teams traded baskets in the early going before Swarthmore took control with a 22-6 run. The Garnet had a 15-point cushion at halftime. The visitors began the second with a 9-2 stretch to go up 22 and Washington narrowed the deficit to only 16 over the remainder of the game.
Zander Jimenez finished just two points shy of his career high, recording 22 to go along with 11 rebounds, three assists, and three steals. It was the first double-double for the rookie.
Eddie Paquette and
Devin Burger poured in 14 points apiece with a pair of efficient performances. Paquette was 5-for-6 from the field, including an impressive 4-for-5 from beyond the arc, while Burger shot 5-of-7. Paquette also dished a team-high five assists.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The two sides went back and forth to open the action as the Shoremen held a slim 7-6 lead with 15:14 on the clock. Swarthmore then took over with nine consecutive points to spark a 22-6 surge over the next 12-plus minutes. Jimenez scored 13 of the 22 points as the Garnet shot 9-of-19 from the field. Swarthmore limited Washington to 2-of-16 shooting with six turnovers during the stretch.
- After the run, the Garnet held a commanding 28-13 edge with 2:35 left in the period. The teams traded three-pointers and Swarthmore went into the locker room with a 31-16 advantage. Defensively, the Garnet held the Shoremen to just six field goals while forcing eight Washington turnovers over the opening 20 minutes.
- Swarthmore picked up where it left off to begin the second half, scoring nine of the first 11 points for a 40-18 lead.
Cal Hanson and Paquette each drilled a three during the sequence. The Shoremen chipped away over the ensuing eight-plus minutes and were able to close the gap to 16 (55-39) with 7:18 to play. However, the Garnet then put the game away with a 10-3 run bookended by threes from Paquette and Burger, building the margin to 23 (65-42) with 3:03 remaining.
GARNET LEADERS
Points: Jimenez 22
Rebounds: Jimenez 11
Assists: Paquette 5
Blocks:
Aidan Godfrey 3
Steals: Jimenez 3
Threes: Paquette 4
UP NEXT
Swarthmore (15-7, 7-3 Centennial) travels to Ursinus College on Saturday for a key conference matchup.
