Franklin, MA- The Dean College Men's Basketball team was defeated in overtime by the University of Hartford on Wednesday night by a final score of 74-72. With the loss, the Bulldogs drop to 2-2 on the season, while the Hawks improve to 3-1.

Noteworthy Marks:
-Freshman Max Shosa (Manchester, NH) posted another stunning performance. The guard had his hand in every statistical category, posting a career-high 21 points, 3 assists, 6 rebounds, a steal, and two blocks.
-Shosa now has six blocks on the season, which is third for third place in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC). 

How it Happened:
-The opening minutes would set the pace for the entire ballgame. CJ Riley (Yonkers, NY) would get his first start of the season, drilling a three to grab Dean's first points of the night. Hartford would return the favor with five straight points to snatch the lead.
-However, Shosa swooped in for the Bulldogs, drilling a three-pointer of his own to take the lead back. All of this occurred within the game's first two minutes.
-The back-and-forth action would continue through the majority of the first half. The lead would be exchanged numerous times, with neither side seeing an advantage over three points.
-With about five minutes remaining in the half, the Bulldogs started to gain momentum. Xavier Boyd (Loganville, GA) would grab a quick layup, followed by another strong basket by Shosa. The Hawks would continue to miss from behind the arch, allowing Dean to rush the other side. Riley would strike on another jump shot, giving Dean a five point lead.
-After another quick effort by Hartford on offense, the Bulldogs led by four going into the locker room. Randy Vasquez (Methuen, MA) would lead Dean's first-half scoring with eight points.
-The Hawks would begin their bounce-back at the start of the second half. They would open with a 9-2 run, giving them the 40-37 advantage. However, the Bulldogs quickly rebounded by drawing two fouls. Vasquez and Boyd would hit all three free throws, tying the game at 40.
-The Hawks began to pull away at the halfway point, taking a six point advantage with just over 11 minutes to play. They would continue to have a stronger lead until the 7:20 mark. Boyd and Shosa would lead the Bulldogs' return, tying the the game at 57.
-With just over three to-go, Hartford would pull away again. However, Riley would shoot a three-pointer in the clutch to bring it within two points. Naser Motley (Everett, WA) would then tie the game on a quick jumper, making it 68-68. Dean would have a chance to seal the game in regulation, but their final play was stymied. Motley missed the jumper, sending it to overtime. 
-Hartford would grab the first basket of overtime, ultimately setting their pace for the final five minutes. The Bulldogs would have plethora of chances to take the lead, but ultimately couldn't knock down the needed baskets. The Hawks would take the final victory by a score of 74-72.

Standouts:
-Shosa (21 Points, 3 Assists, 6 Rebounds, Steal, 2 Blocks)
-Motley (15 Points, 4 Assists, 5 Rebounds, 2 Steals, Block)
-Vasquez (11 Points, Assist, 7 Rebounds, Block)
-Boyd (10 Points, 3 Assists, 6 Rebounds, Steal)

Next Up:
-Saturday, November 22nd, 3:00PM Vs. Anna Maria College (Tunnel to Towers Night Presented by Byrne Financial / Pieri Gymnasium)

For Media Inquiries:
Brett Chaves
Sports Information Director, Dean College Athletics
(508) 541-1826
BChaves@dean.edu