Cougars Edge Eastern, 55-52

This time, the shot hit the front rim. After losing two heartbreakers in close games in these past few weeks, the Cougars finally won the close one. After Pennsauken's disheartening buzzer-beater to beat the Cougars and Cherokee seeming to make every shot in the final minutes of the game on Tuesday, Eastern's final game-tying shot missed out today to let the Cougars escape with a three point victory over rival Eastern.

In a season in which the Cougars have only two games in which they have won by less than eight (both against Eastern), this game followed the similar trend of the Cougars outplaying the other team most of the game but losing the lead at the end. Today, the Cougars played superbly in the first half as Chris Santo ('11) dominated on his way to 23 of East's 38 first-half points and a seven-point Cougar lead. In the first half, the Cougar lead reached 11 after a Santo offensive board and layup.

After half-time, the Cougars play went downhill. The team's shooting went ice cold, scoring only 10 points in the 3rd quarter and seven in the fourth. Eastern cut the lead to 40-39 before a Marc Schlessel ('12) three and a Jake Gurkin ('12) three and layup brought the lead back to seven. Just as the Cougars were about to head back to the bench at the end of the quarter, Eastern hit a last-second three to cut the lead to four. This was going to be a close one.

The Cougars opened the fourth with a Seth Friedman ('10) three, his only points in the game in addition to 14 assists. One of the Cougars problems in this game was that they sometimes suffered lapses on the boards. Despite Santo ending up with 21 rebounds, in the fourth quarter the Cougars failed to get the clutch defensive rebound. When Eastern was down seven with about six minutes left, the Cougars gave Eastern three or four opportunities at a basket due to Eastern offensive rebounds. Although Eastern failed to capitalize, most teams will in that situation.

On the offensive side, the Cougars worked the ball around to let the clock dwindle. After a Cougar intentional foul and Eastern basket with under four minutes remaining, Eastern cut the lead to five. Then three. This game was up for grabs. Then Santo re-emerged on the scoring front and hit a layup to extend the lead to five. On the ensuing possession, Eastern hit an ugly jump-shot to make the lead three. Then after a Cougar turnover, Eastern hit a layup to cut the lead to one.

Another Santo layup extended the lead to three. Eastern failed to score on their next possession. They then proceeded to foul Friedman multiple times until they sent him to the line with 10 seconds left in the game for a one and one. Friedman missed the front end of the one and one so Eastern got the rebound and the ball. East fouled with 1.5 seconds left to force Eastern to have to quickly force a three. Then, the final shot hit the front rim for Eastern and the Cougars pulled their record to 11-6.

Player of the Game: Santo. With his 27 points and 21 rebounds in addition to his clutch rebounds at the end, Santo came through when it mattered most for the Cougars. In addition to his great play today, Santo is only nine points away from breaking the school record of 1,572 points set by Frank Williams in the 1985-1986 season. The Cougars next game will be Saturday at East against Capital Prep Charter.