HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College men's basketball team made a valiant effort in the second half after trailing by 16, but in the end could not get over the hump in a 67-62 loss to Washington & Lee University Friday evening in the Equinox Classic.
Despite the Generals shooting 59 percent from the field in the second half, Haverford (0-2) managed to match the visitors shot-for-shot through most of the final 20 minutes.
The first half stayed closed until five straight points from Washington & Lee's (2-0) Kyle Bond made the score 29-20. The Generals lead by nine in the closing minutes, but a baseline jumper by Brett Cohen beat the buzzer to make the score, 31-24.
Washington & Lee jumped out to a 7-0 run to open the second stanza and went ahead 40-24. A three by Ian Goldberg near the 14-minute mark got the Fords within nine in the midst of a 17-4 Haverford run. Cam Baker capped off the run with a three-point play, making the score 44-41 with less than 10 minutes to go.
The Generals hot shooting kept HC from getting closer than one the rest of the way. Washington & Lee scored on four straight possession and six-of-seven at one point. Baker hit a jumper with 4:19 showing that got the Fords within one, 56-55.
A layup by Bond on a press-break with 1:05 left was somewhat of a back-breaker as it put the Generals up 63-59. Sam Permutt hit the back end of a two-shot foul and after a missed Washington & Lee one-and-one Baker hit a jumper to make the score 63-62. John Rice hit both of his free throws and after HC could not convert on its next possession Bond hit two free throws to provide the final margin.
Baker went for 19 points on the night on 9-of-18 shooting. Goldberg tallied 12 points on four treys, to go along with five boards and four assists. Permutt grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds and added eight points.
J.D. Ey led the Generals with 14 points and Bond had 12. Haverford held the six other scoring Washington & Lee players to just 37 points.
The Fords have a quick turnaround as they play Clark University Saturday at 1 p.m. at Swarthmore College. Swarthmore defeated the Cougars, 69-66, in Friday's first game.