One point losses are tough to bear. So when the Dartmouth men got a chance to avenge their 65-64 loss to Quinnipiac University, they came out ready to play. Forcing a turnover off the tip-off and knocking down a three less than five seconds later, the Big Green sent a message: It's open season on bobcats.
Unfortunately, Quinnipiac was not intimidated. Up by seven with 4:45 left, the Bobcats found themselves riding seven point lead, until a clutch three from Mike Liddy '06 brought the Big Green within striking distance. On this night, however, that was as close as Dartmouth would get. With Quinnipiac's C.J. Vick playing his best game of the season, QU quickly extended the lead to ten. A Rashaun Banjo dunk off Rob Monroe's steal with 1:38 on the clock sealed the deal. The Bobcats defeated Dartmouth 69-60.
Quinnipiac's Rashaun Banjou and Dartmouth's own Leon Pattman '07 monopolized scoring in the first half. Pattman, known in some circles as the Memphis Man-Child, contributed 13 points in the opening 20 minutes only to be outdone by Banjou's 15.
Early on, the two teams battled neck-and-neck, one school taking the lead just to lose it on the other end of the floor. In the first half alone, the score was tied seven times. Though Dartmouth netted 12 for 22 first half shots, 12 turnovers and costly fouls kept the score close. The Big Green headed into the locker room up by one.
Dartmouth started red-hot in the second half, quickly opening up a six- point lead. For the next ten minutes the Big Green maintained control of the scoreboard behind '05s Steve Callahan and Mike McLaren, who finished with 15 and 10 points respectively. However, foul trouble began to take its toll, limiting Pattman's effectiveness, as well as that of big men Calvin Arnold and David "The Beast" Gardner. The latter two would eventually foul out.
With a depleted front court, the already short-handed Big Green succumbed to Quinnipiac's unrelenting pressure. An 11-0 Bobcat run capped by shooting specialist Van Crafton's long three-pointer pushed QU ahead with slightly over eight minutes remaining. They would not trail again.
Despite an offensive lull in the second period, Pattman still managed to lead Dartmouth with 17 points, but season-highs in turnovers and fouls proved the Big Green's undoing. On the Quinnipiac side, Vick contributed 17 points and 14 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season, and Banjo led all players with 24 points. The win lifted the Bobcats' record to 4-9, while the Big Green left Hamden, Connecticut 3-10 on the season.
Next Monday, the Dartmouth men's basketball team heads to Colgate University. The Red Raiders are 14-14 thus far and always are tough to beat at home. Will the Big Green pull the upset? For those who are not making the trip down to Hamilton, New York, tune in to WDCR at 7:00 p.m. and catch the game live from the comfort of home.
