UMass Boston Men’s Basketball put on a show against Curry College’s Colonels, but their clinic came up short in the final moments of their back-and-forth affair. The Beacons lost 79–77, as Curry College’s sophomore guard Jason Romans scored a last second tie-breaker to keep the Colonels undefeated.
The team’s second home game broke records and even set some new ones. Despite that, it wasn’t enough for the Beacons to come out victorious. The game saw six ties and four lead changes through two halves and a five-minute overtime period. The teams tried their best to defend their baskets, and at the same time, break through the opponents’ defense and score. This match was a spectacular show of the Beacons’ unity. Emanuel Zayas, junior guard, and arguably the Beacons’ first option on the field, scored 40 percent of baskets, but his efforts still weren’t enough to break the Colonels’ winning streak. Zayas shot 8–15 from the field including three shots from downtown and 100 percent shooting from the free throw line, as he showed off his impeccable dribbling skills. On the court, he was a force to be reckoned with.
Erik Donaldson was a defensive monster who stopped the Colonels’ meek attempts to score like it was second nature, contributing to a team-high four blocks to go along with nine points and five rebounds. Ish Fofana was the powerhouse of the team both on the offensive and defensive end, leading in rebounds with 13 to pair with his 21 points. Guard Emanuel Zayas proved to be the sharpest thorn in the Colonels’ road to victory. Zayas led the Beacons to a hot start, as the team retired to the locker room with a sizable lead of 28–19 before entering the second half.
The Beacons stood their ground, maintaining the lead in the second half, as they traded baskets with the Colonels for ten minutes that followed the opening inbound pass. The Colonels cut the lead to five nearly halfway through the closing half, as a Romans’ steal ultimately led to three free throws, and he knocked both down to cut the lead to four.
Toward the end of the match, with a little over a minute to go and the Beacons up four, Curry’s star player Romans contributed to an and-one to take the lead for Curry. Zayas caught Curry’s sophomore guard Tommy Mallinson halfway to the line which resulted in two points, bringing the Beacons back up by one. The Colonels earned one more chance to score as a desperate attempt by Carson Meczywor to steal and seal the game brought Romans to the line. Romans went one-for-two, with his second resulting in a Bobby Joy rebound that sent the game into overtime.
Overtime was a cut-throat competition, as both teams added 14 points following four minutes and 50 seconds of play. One slam dunk after another brought the Beacons to a tie at 77 with seven seconds remaining. This was more than enough for Romans to cash the winning basket. This gave a heartbreaking finish to the Beacons in a hard-fought game against an undefeated squad.
The Beacons proved that they are tough competitors and a hard to beat group. They are dedicated to the sport, and more importantly, passionate. The team gave their all on the home court and their efforts were visible from the stands. Each player contributed in their own unique way. Even though the match did not go as expected, the Beacons definitely put on a show. The crowd went wild with every shot, pass and rebound. The whole match was a back-and-forth battle between the Colonels and the Beacons. The Colonels may have won the match, but the Beacons won hearts that day, and that’s all that matters. They still have plenty of matches to prove themselves and bring the title home. They don’t lack physically or mentally; these players are strong, dedicated, passionate and extremely talented. That being said, there’s no doubt that the Beacons are going to heat up the Clark Athletic Center again and next time, send the travelers packing.