CHESTERTOWN, Md. - The Haverford College men's basketball team (6-12, 4-7 CC) defeated Washington College (2-15, 1-10 CC) on Thursday night by an 80-73 final score. The Fords knocked down 13 three-pointers, shooting 54.2 percent from beyond the arc to down the hosts. Brandon Banadda and Nick Kerkorian led the way, both scoring 18 points in the triumph. The 18 points from Banadda was a career high.
Harry Johnson kicked things off with an inside layup to open the scoring. However, only a few minutes later, the Shoremen used a 9-0 run to take a 13-4 lead, forcing a timeout from the Fords. Out of the timeout, Charlie Mamlin used a pump fake to sidestep into a three. Washington College answered with a layup inside but on Haverford's next possession, Banadda connected from deep, cutting the lead to five.
Banadda isn't known for taking many threes but he promptly buried another from long range to bring the Fords within two. Haverford regained the lead with 9:26 left after Kerkorian knocked down a three, with the assist going to Banadda. Action then go a little slopping in the following minute. Washington College recognized that and called a timeout to regroup.
Banadda continued to be a menace on the floor following the timeout. The third-year guard grabbed a steal and converted on the fast break layup for his eighth point of the half. Haverford now looked to use the momentum and extend the lead. Haverford collected another turnover from the Shoremen and this time it was Kerkorian converting on the layup, giving the Fords a 22-17 lead. At the 6:17 mark, Kerkorian connected from beyond the arc to give himself eight points in the half. Haverford extended the lead to eight until the Shoremen finally broke the run, albeit from the free-throw line.
Mamlin, who sits third in the conference in three-point percentage, knocked down another three to give Haverford its first double-digit lead of the game. It was the Fords' sixth three of the half as they were shooting an impressive 54 percent from three-point range. The Shoremen tried to climb back in it with a three from Ryan Lang, but Nick Stewart immediately responded with a three on the assist from Banadda, his third of the game. That made the score 33-21 as the Fords cruised into halftime with the game fully in their control. The half ended with Kerkorian converting a layup with the right hand to eventually give the Fords a 37-28 lead at halftime.
There was little Washington College could do to stop Kerkorian as he was the leading scorer for the Fords with 12 points. Out of the 14 made field goals in the half, seven of them were assisted. showing Haverford did a wonderful job moving the basketball. The Fords bench outscored Washington 23-5, proving to be all the difference in the matchup.
The second half started with both teams trading three-point makes with Banadda making his third of the game in that stretch. However, Washington College worked its way back into the game, going on an 8-0 run following Banadda's three. Haverford called a timeout after seeing its lead dwindle to just one. The run came to an end after Johnson's layup started a 7-0 run for Haverford.
The Fords had an answer for every Washington College made basket as Haverford continued to hold on to a six-point lead with 12:44 remaining in regulation.
Banadda refused to slow down as he connected on his fourth three of the game to keep Washington College at bay. His three gave him 16 points and gave Haverford a 56-49 lead. He later converted on a layup at the 6:06 mark to bring his total to 18. A multitude of Fords also converted on key shot attempts to slow down any runs from the Shoremen. Nate Torres, Stewart, and Johnson all provided buckets when needed.
Washington College attempted one final push to get back into the game with 4:12 remaining and staring at a 65-59 deficit. However, the Fords' 12th and 13th three of the game from Kerkorian and Trotter put any of those attempts to rest. Haverford eventually saw out the game and left the Cain Center with a much-needed conference win.
Haverford finished the night with three players scoring double-digits. Johnson scored 13 behind Kerkorian and Banadda's 18 points. Nate Torres led the team in assists with four on the evening.
The Fords will travel right back to Maryland on Saturday, January 28 to take on McDaniel as they look to grab a hold of a Centennial Conference playoff spot in the latter half of the season. The contrast is slated for 2 p.m. with the women's game to follow.