Quinnipiac University
Yale
QU Men's Basketball Tops Yale in Double Overtime CT 6 Classic, 88-85
11/14/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
- Box Score
- Photos of QU vs. Yale
HAMDEN, Conn. – The 2014-15 Quinnipiac men's basketball season opened on Friday, and in thrilling fashion in front of a packed house at the TD Bank Sports Center.
Quinnipiac outlasted cross-town rival Yale, 88-85, in the middle game of the annual Connecticut 6 Classic. The Bobcats improved to 5-1 in the CT 6 since it began in 2009, with head coach Tom Moore improving to 7-1 in season openers at Quinnipiac.
Quinnipiac was led by its senior class, in particular captain Zaid Hearst (Bethesda, Md.). Hearst played all but one minute in the marathon, pouring in a career-high 34 points on 12-of-20 shooting. He added 11 rebounds to complete the double-double and dished out five assists in the win.
The unsung hero award belonged to Justin Harris (Paterson, N.J.) who came off the bench to score 12 points in 20 minutes. Harris went 5-of-6 from the floor and added a pair of free-throws as well. Fellow classmates Ousmane Drame (Boston, Mass.) and Evan Conti (Bayside, N.Y.) finished with 13 points apiece and Kasim Chandler (Newark, N.J.) had 12.
Drame posted a game-high 15 rebounds and blocked seven shots – matching his Division I program record which he has done twice before. Conti chipped in six assists and six rebounds with Chandler grabbing a career-best eight rebounds and handing out six assists.
The game intensified late in regulation when Yale's Justin Sears sank a layup in the paint to tie the score up at 65-65 with 1:51 seconds remaining. After a pair of empty possessions, Yale's Javier Duren hit two free-throws to put the visitors in front, 67-65.
On Quinnipiac's ensuing possession, Drame skied for an offensive rebound, made the put-back and was fouled on the play. Drame missed the free-throw, leaving Yale with the ball and 21 seconds left. Drame came up big a second time, blocking Duren's final effort to send the game into overtime.
Fans still buzzing from the end of regulation, Quinnipiac used a 7-1 run to take a 74-68 lead three minutes into the extra frame. However, Yale pulled to within three after a five straight points from Sears, setting the stage for Yale's Jack Montague in the waning seconds. Montague drained a three from the wing to tie the score up at 76-76. Hearst was off the mark on his final attempt of the period.
Much like the first overtime, Quinnipiac picked up a lead in the second overtime. Ahead 85-80 with 40 seconds left, the Bobcats made enough free-throws down the stretch to hold off Yale's late charge. Harris sealed the deal with a pair of free-throws with 11 seconds left.
In addition to the returners, three Bobcats made their collegiate debuts in George Dimitri Floras (Nashua, N.H.), Chaise Daniels (Meriden, Conn.) and Samuel Dingba (Yaounde, Cameroon). They combined for 46 minutes.
The nation's top-ranked rebounding team from a year ago picked up right where they left off in 2013-14. Quinnipiac outrebounded Yale, 54-38, which included 22 offensive rebounds for 16 second chance points. Defensively, Quinnipiac held Yale to 38.5 percent from the floor.
Yale was led by Duren and Sears who finished with 26 and 23, respectively. Sears grabbed 12 rebounds for the double-double.
Quinnipiac is back in action on Tuesday, Nov. 18 against Atlantic 10 foe La Salle. The game is the backend of a doubleheader, following the women's team who hosts Hampton at 5 p.m.
Fans interested in purchasing tickets for the 2014-15 campaign can call the QU Ticket Office at 203-582-3905, visit the official website of Quinnipiac athletics, www.QuinnipiacBobcats.com or make a trip to the TD Bank Sports Center Ticket Office.
Student-athletes, parents and fans can download the QU Athletics schedules to your laptop and mobile devices for free by clicking in the iCalendar link at the bottom of each sport's homepage or the master schedule page. Please follow Quinnipiac Athletics on Facebook and Twitter (@QUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates.
