Saints Upset Falls Short in 71-67 Loss at No. 15 Williams

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.— Trailing by 18 at halftime, the No. 15 Williams Ephs proved their positioning in the Nation's Top 15, storming back from that deficit to come out with a 71-67 victory over Emmanuel College on Tuesday night.

It didn't look good for Williams at the half. The Ephs were down 40-22 after some serious struggles on the offensive end. However, a totally different Williams team came out of the locker room — one with a renewed defensive drive and offensive intensity. Play by play, Williams chipped away at Emmanuel's lead, finally tying up the game with eight minutes left in the second half.

The Saints weren't ready to give up, and put up big shots to keep pace with the Ephs. With seven lead changes to close out the game, competition was intense to the very last minute. Holding a one point lead and with one minute to play, the Ephs suffered a disastrous turnover and the Saints sprinted down the floor. While their layup attempt was no good, a trailing Saint grabbed the board and dunked it to take the lead, 67-66. 

The Ephs needed offense more than ever, and it was the seniors Cole Prowitt-Smith and Nate Karren who would make it happen. Driving middle, Prowitt-Smith dished the ball to Karren, who rose up and drilled a three with just thirty seconds left to play. Tough defense and clutch free throws from Alex Lee allowed Williams to close out the game, 71-67. 

Moving back to the first half, it seemed like things were starting off well enough. Prowitt-Smith was the first to score, rejecting a ball screen and spinning into the lane for two. He drained a three from the corner on the very next play. Buckets from Brandon Roughley and Evan Glatzer would put the Ephs up 9-4. 

In fact, it looked like the Ephs were in the dominant position through these first minutes. Williams' buckets came from open looks while many of Emmanuel's points were scored on heavily contested shots. The teams stayed about even through the first six minutes of play. 

The difference through the rest of the half was penetration into the lane. The Saints' Noah Beaudet started off the attack, picking up a Williams turnover and finishing on the fast break. He would pour in six more with back-to-back threes, and suddenly Williams found themselves down 23 - 16. 

Williams seemed disheartened, only adding six more points to finish the half while Emmanuel added seventeen on efficient shooting. Drives and kick outs were the Saints' bread and butter during these minutes, and they tore up the Ephs' defense going into the break.

It really was defense that turned things around for the Ephs. While Williams shot 36% to Emmanuel's 53.6% in the first half, the numbers were more than flipped in the second. The Ephs got stop after stop, keeping the Saints at 32% shooting while climbing to 68.2% for their own shots, generating offense on the fast break and from ball movement. 

**Release courtesy Williams College Athletic Communications