Weston, Mass.—A lay-up by Ta’Keame Gomes (Cambridge, Mass.) with 22 seconds remaining gave Regis College (4-5) a 70-69 victory over FDU-Florham (0-8) in the Residence Inn Greenbelt Classic hosted by Catholic University (Washington, D.C.) Saturday.
“I was impressed with our resiliency tonight,” said Nathan Hager, head coach for Regis College. “We kept our composure and made plays at the end of the game,” he continued.
Gomes finished with 10 points for the Pride. Senior Jesse Vega (Pawtucket, R.I.) tallied a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds for Regis. Vega had a season high in rebounds Saturday, and posted his second highest point total thus far.
Regis shot poorly from the floor, making just 21 of its 64 shots. “FDU did a very good job exploiting the fact that we shot 32 percent from the field,” said Hager.
The Pride found other ways to make a run for the championship game Sunday. Regis shot better than 82 percent (23-of-25) from the free-throw line, missing just five attempts on the night. Adding to its success was the Pride’s ability to maintain possession of the ball. Regis was +6.0 in total rebounds, and almost double FDU in offensive rebounds posting 17 offensive boards total.
Regis trailed by at most eight points for much of the contest. With less than 2:00 remaining, Vega made one of his two free throws following a foul by FDU.
He would make up for his miss by forcing Adam Katz to turn the ball over to the Pride with a minute remaining. Gomes would make good on a lay-up, cutting the FDU lead to 69-67.
In the course of the attempt Gomes was fouled, and would make his free throw giving Regis the three-point play. Down by one, a missed three-point attempt by FDU left the ball in James Cooper’s (Philadelphia, Pa.) hands.
Cooper would push the ball up the court to Gomes who would again convert his attempt to give Regis the lead at 70-69 with 22 seconds remaining.
Regis College will face Catholic University in the Residence Inn Greenbelt Classic Championship game Sunday at 4 p.m. in Washington D.C.