Cougars Lose Heartbreaker to Pennsauken

Today the Cougars fell to Pennsauken 65-62 in a true heartbreaker. After a fantastic, fast-paced exciting game, the Cougars simply came out on the wrong end of this one. The game was tight throughout, but the second half was a frenzy of action. After the Cougars led at half-time by a score of 28 to 26 with Chris Santo ('11) leading the scoring charge with 11, neither team truly took control in the second half.

The third quarter ended with the game all tied up at 47. Santo had a huge third quarter, scoring 15 points to keep the Cougars in the game.

The intensity level of the fourth quarter for both teams was spectacular. Both teams played scrappily and hustled for every loose ball in the quarter. With six minutes left in the fourth, Pennsauken took a slight 53-52 lead. As usual in this game, Santo did not let them extend their lead. Less than a minute later, Santo fiercely dunked the ball through the basket to tie the game up at 56.

Pennsauken proceeded to score a basket on their next possession to give them the two point advantage with a little bit more than two minutes left in the game. After a Santo free throw and East getting the ball back after a Pennsauken score Seth Friedman ('10) had a clear look at the basket for an easy layup on the fast break which would cut Pennsauken's then three point lead to one. The ball was headed straight into the hoop, but a Pennsauken player came out of nowhere to swat the ball out of the air. After a tense moment, it was called goaltending and the Cougars pulled back within one.

After yet another Pennsauken basket, Santo once again forced his way to the hoop, knifing through the defense to bring the score to 62-61 Pennsauken with about a minute left in the game. As Pennsauken brought the ball up, the Cougars played a tight press defense to force a turnover. After Pennsauken's coach was forced to call a timeout, the Cougars accomplished their goal. Ben Gerstein ('10) came away with the steal as the Cougars had a fast break opportunity. The Cougars could not cash in this time after a Pennsauken player swatted away a shot attempt. This time it was a clean block however and it looked as if the Cougars would come away with nothing on this possession. Luckily, the ball found its way into Cougar possession once again. Santo came away with the ball and was then fouled with 17.6 seconds left in the game.

With the game on the line Santo knocked down one of his two free throws to tie the game up at 62. The game would come down to one final Pennsauken possession. It looked like East had forced this game to overtime as it seemed like Pennsauken could only pass the ball around the perimeter on this final possession. As the clock slowly ticked towards zero, Pennsauken still had not set up any sort of play. Even with three seconds left it looked as if the Cougars would live to play an overtime quarter. Some days, the ball just does not bounce in the right direction as the ball came into Pennsauken player Frank Small's hands. Small launched a deep three in a quirky shooting motion that somehow, in some way, found nothing but net. Pennsauken won the game, 65-62.

It was just one of those games. The ball just didn't bounce in the right direction for the Cougars today.

Player of the Game: Chris Santo. His 36 points allowed the Cougars to stay in the game and he could do whatever he wanted in the paint. He also added in 10 rebounds. He was also all over the court in this game, collecting steals and playing tough defense throughout.

Also, Friedman dished out 11 assists today to add to his tremendous assist total this season.