The Bridgewater College Eagles overcame a cold-shooting first half Wednesday afternoon to defeat The College of New Jersey, 78-68, in non-conference men’s basketball action.
The Eagles shot just 37.5 percent in the opening half and led by just two points at the break.
Bridgewater trailed the Lions 27-20 late in the first half before a 10-1 run to close the half sent the Eagles to the locker room with the lead.
Senior center Romie Powell sparked the late first-half surge with a layup and a short jumper to pull the Eagles to within three points. A layup by Matthew Hunter made it a one-point game before two foul shots from Ronnie Thomas gave Bridgewater a one-point, 28-27, lead with 1:04 left in the half. A layup by Daniel McClain pushed the Eagles lead to three before Bobby Brackett hit 1-of-2 foul shots for the Lions, cutting the Eagles lead to 32-30 at the half.
The Lions tied the score with two foul shots to start the second half, but the Eagles then took control with a 10-0 run.
Tavis Stapleton started the Eagles spurt with a jumper before a layup by Thomas gave Bridgewater a four-point lead. Ed Reddick scored the next four points and a layup by Stapleton put the Eagles on top 40-30.
Bridgewater maintained a working margin and pushed the lead to 15 points midway through the half on a jumper by Aaron Adams that made the score 54-39.
The Lions cut the lead to seven, 56-49, on Jayson Johnson’s bucket with 8:41 left, but the Eagles responded with an 11-0 outburst to take their biggest lead of the game. 67-49.
After Reddick and McClain each made 1-of-2 on trips to the foul line, buckets by Kenneth Waugh and Reddick pushed the lead to 60-49. Reddick scored the next four points and Matthew Hunter converted a 3-point play to give the Eagles an 18-point lead with 3:25 left in the game.
After hitting just 37.5 percent of its first-half shots, Bridgewater torched the Lions from the field in the second half, converting 57.1 percent of its field goal attempts.
Reddick scored 17 of his 24 points in the second half to lead the Eagles offense. Stapleton was the only other Bridgewater player in double figures as he filled up the boxscore with 12 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four steals.
Bridgewater won the battle on the boards by a 38-34 margin with McClain leading the way with nine rebounds.
The College of New Jersey placed five players in double figures, led by Brackett with 13 points.
The victory was the second straight for the Eagles, who are now 2-1 on the season.
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