The Dartmouth men's basketball team ended its season this weekend, downing Yale 65-63 in overtime and crushing Brown 64-54. Co-Captain Jacob Capps '96 turned in a season high 21 points to help lift the Big Green over the Bulldogs on Friday, while an inspiring team effort dedicated to the squad's senior class fueled Saturday's win over the Bears.
Dartmouth 65 Yale 63 Overtime
With just 30 seconds left, a Kenny Mitchell '97 free throw tied the score at 59, sending it into overtime. In OT, PJ Halas '98 (10 points, five assists) hit a clutch three-point bomb with 1:40 remaining to give Dartmouth the lead for good.
"We never got away from them, perhaps due to fatigue," Dartmouth Coach Dave Faucher said after the close win. "From start to finish it was just one of those tough games."
With Capps and Sea Lonergan '97 leading the way, the Big Green shot 52 percent from the floor in the first half, but were not able to break away from the hot-handed Bulldogs (59 percent). In fact, the Capps and Lonergan combo combined for 22 of Dartmouth's 29 first-half points.
At the break, the score was knotted at 29.
"I thought we had to go to Brian [Gilpin '97] more in the second," said Faucher of his halftime adjustments. However, the seven-footer's shot really was not called on; instead, Gilpin was a force defensively, as he blocked six shots and grabbed nine rebounds on the night. Capps and Lonergan practically alternated scoring duties as the seesaw battle continued through 12 lead changes in the second half.
Lonergan scored 13 of his game high 23 points in the second half.
Dartmouth kept Yale from scoring in the final three minutes of regulation as they clawed back from a five point deficit. Although Yale had two opportunities to go ahead after Mitchell's foul shot, they could not convert, sending the game into overtime where the Big Green finished off the Bulldogs.
"It felt good to get the win," Capps said. With the victory, Dartmouth clinched third place in the tight race for the Ivy League championship.
Dartmouth 64 Brown 54
For the last time in their college careers, co-Captain Matt Bush '96, Baron Carlson '96, Eric Howard '96 and Capps suited up in the green and white. To a standing ovation by Big Green supporters, all four seniors took the floor to start the game.
From the tip, Dartmouth played energetically and jumped out to a 15-8 lead. A 7-0 run by Brown evened it up midway through the first, but a Lonergan jam with seven minutes remaining ended the Brown run. The lead changed hands several more times until the half ended with the Bears ahead 29-26.
At halftime, Capps, who traditionally speaks to the team to pump them up, asked Lonergan to say a few words. "Sea said to the team, 'We've got 20 minutes left.' He looked around to the guys and repeated, 'Listen, 20 minutes left,' referring to the seniors' career. We all had chills," Capps said.
The Big Green responded by outscoring Brown 38-25 in the second half with an air attack that hit 67 percent from the field.
Mitchell showed flashes of brilliance as he put on a show of slashing drives that set up Gilpin (14 points) for some easy baskets.
His no-look assist to a slashing Keith Stanton '97 capped a 22-3 run that all but sealed the game for the Big Green. Mitchell (six points) finished the game with 11 assists.
Halas (16 points, two assists), who shot 42 percent from three-point land, was ranked second in the Ivies.
He was outdone in scoring only by Lonergan, who once again led all scorers with 17 points. Lonergan was 8-12 from the field.
"Tonight we seemed rejuvenated," Faucher said. "The second half was played just like we draw it up."
A merciless Big Green defense held the Bears to just three points in the first 10 minutes of the second half, while both the intense defense and potent attack contributed to a game-high lead of 16 points with five minutes to go. Fittingly, it was a Capps three-pointer that extended the advantage.
As the game winded down, Faucher sent in a sub for Capps who was given a thunderous ovation from all on hand. As Capps left the floor, he hugged teammate Lonergan and waved to the crowd.
"He's a winner -- my first recruit," Faucher said. "I wanted him to go out a winner and he did."
Capps said, "I had chills as I came off the court. It was an emotional time and I can't believe it's over."
A couple of easy late baskets by Brown disguised the Dartmouth blowout, as the Big Green cruised to the victory, Dartmouth's eighth straight over Brown.
"It was so special playing on this team," Carlson said. "I appreciate my teammates really turning it on so we could win tonight."
In 1993 Carlson hit a half-court shot at Boston College, giving Dartmouth an NCAA record nine three-point field goals in one game, a record that still stands.
"Tonight's win typifies the heart of the team," Bush said, who made the squad as a hard-working walk-on. "It was a great effort all around and it meant a lot to me."
Howard said, "This whole weekend was icing on the cake. The highlight for me was beating Penn."
Lonergan, who was just named to the GTE Academic All-America District 1 team, could not say enough about the seniors.
"I have just an unbelievable amount of respect for Baron, E and Matty," he said. "It's really tough to see a guy like Capper go, but his intensity will stay with us next year through me."
Halas said, "This win was for the seniors. I'll never forget them."
For the Dartmouth men's basketball team, the season was a wild roller coaster ride. Big wins like the one over Penn and good execution like in the game against Brown gave fans high hopes for next season.
Four of the five starters return as seniors. With the emergence this year of Halas, Asa Palmer '98, Stanton and Rob Davis '99, the team looks tough to beat. Faucher's squad finished at 16-10 (9-5 in the Ivy League), the best during his tenure.
