12/04/2007
Men's Basketball Taken Down by No. 3 Brandeis

WORCESTER, MASS. 12/4/07 - The Clark University men’s basketball team dropped a 82-71 decision to nationally-ranked Brandeis University in a non-conference match-up at the Kneller Athletic Center on Tuesday.

With the loss Clark draws even at 3-3. Brandeis, ranked third in the country by the latest d3hoops.com poll, continues their unbeaten streak at 7-0.

Mark Alexander (Providence, R.I.) put up 20 points with three steals to lead the Cougars. Peter Normandin (Westminster, Mass.) shot a perfect 14-14 from the line with 17 total points and five rebounds, while Pat Landers (Worcester, Mass.) and Jack Minister (Manchester, England) added 12 and 11 points, respectively.

Terrell Hollins (Springfield, Mass.) led Brandeis with 21 points and Andre Roberson (Springfield, Mass.) added another 20, including 17 in the second half. Stephen Hill (Brighton, Mass.) chipped in with 13 points and seven rebounds.

The Cougars found themselves in a hole early as Brandeis opened the game with a 13-0 run until Normandin got Clark started with a three-point shot to break up a seven minute scoring drought. Once on the board, Clark battled back from a 12-point deficit as it outscored the Judges 18-6 over a five minute stretch to knot the score at 23 on a three-point play by Minister.

Brandeis tried to pull away again as it gained a four point advantage on a three by Roberson, but Alexander answered with a trey of his own to keep the Cougars within one (30-31). Four straight free throws from Normandin and a jumper from Alexander gave Clark its first lead of the game (36-31) with just 0:55 on the clock. A lay-up by Hill, however, brought Brandeis within two (38-36) just before the half.

In the second period, five consecutive points from Hill left Clark down 43-40 until Minister’s three-pointer once again tied the score. Brandeis slowly built up a lead, however, with a 20-7 run over seven minutes to gain a 63-50 advantage. Roberson and Hollins teamed up for 13 points during the burst.

A lay-up from Landers cut the Brandeis lead to single digits (57-66), but a three-pointer from Joe Coppens (Rockland, Mass.) left Clark down by 12 with under four minutes to play to put the game out of reach.

The Cougars shot 18-19 from the line, good for a 94.7 free throw percentage. Brandeis ruled the paint in the match, scoring 38 points inside to Clark’s eight.

Clark hosts Fitchburg State College on Thursday (7 pm) while Brandeis heads to UMass-Dartmouth the same day (7 pm).

By: Bill Cobb, Sports Information Intern