January 24, 2009
Shoremen Race Past Mules, 71-61
Chambers Scores Game-Best 15 Points In Victory

CHESTERTOWN, MD – Host Washington College got a game-high 15 points from junior guard Andrew Chambers (Williamsport, MD/St. Maria Goretti) and held Muhlenberg to 26% from the floor, a season-best for Washington's defense, as the Shoremen downed visiting Muhlenberg, 71-61, on Saturday afternoon in Centennial Conference men's basketball action at the Cain Athletic Center. The Shoremen improve to 7-9 overall and 4-5 in the Centennial, while the Mules fall to 8-7 and 4-5 respectively.

Washington, who never trailed in the contest, jumped out to a 22-10 lead with 8:41 to go in the first half on a layup by Chambers. After the Mules scored the next four points to cut it to 22-14 with 7:37 left in the opening stanza, the Shoremen hit Muhlenberg with a 21-7 run to take a 22-point lead at 43-21 with 1:18 remaining. The 22-point lead was Washington's biggest of the first half, which they did on two occasions. The hosts took a 44-25 lead into halftime. In the first 20 minutes, Washington shot 43% from the floor, while Muhlenberg had a field goal percentage of just 20%.

In the second half, Muhlenberg opened up the half on a 9-5 run to cut Washington's lead to 49-34 with 14:52 to go on a dunk by Peter Barnes off of a missed layup. The hosts responded with a 19-11 run to increase the lead to 23, the biggest lead of the game for Washington, at 68-45 with 5:38 left on a pair of free throws by junior guard Matt Hamm (Newark, DE/St. Mary's). Muhlenberg closed the game on a 16-3 run, but could only cut the deficit to as few as nine points in the final minute.

For the Shoremen, junior forward James Whall (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) netted 13 points, senior guard Tim Kohlrus (Fairfax, VA/W.T. Woodson) netted all 12 points, all in the opening half, and freshman guard Kevin Breslin (Hagerstown, MD/St. Maria Goretti) chipped in with 11, giving Washington four double-digit scorers on the day. Whall and Breslin each tallied a team-high seven rebounds, with Whall tying for game-high in blocks with three. Chambers tied for the high in steals with four on the day.

Chambers led all players in scoring in both Muhlenberg-Washington games this season, as he totaled 21 points in Allentown, PA on January 13.

For the Mules, Obi Nwizugbo was the lone player to score in double figures with 10. Spencer Liddic led all players with 10 rebounds and tied Whall for tops in blocks with three. Barnes swiped four steals, tying for the game-best.

Washington shot 36% in the victory and 86% from the charity stripe, connecting on 24-of-28. Muhlenberg held the edge in rebounds by a 47-43 margin and outscored Washington off the bench by a 34-24 clip. The Shoremen netted 13 points off the fast-break, to just two for Mules.

The Shoremen conclude their four-game homestand on Monday night against Haverford in Centennial action. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m.

BOX SCORE