Box Score Jan. 9, 2007
Box Score
BALTIMORE, MD - The visiting Haverford Fords used clutch free throw shooting in the closing minutes to upset #19 Johns Hopkins 64-59 at Goldfarb Gym Tuesday night. The loss drops the Blue Jays to 11-2 overall and 5-1 in the Centennial Conference. The Fords improve to 5-7 overall and 3-3 in the conference. It was Haverford's first win at Goldfarb since January 12, 1980.
Hopkins took a 32-26 lead into the locker room on the strength of 18 points by senior Matt Griffin (Glen Mills, PA/Penncrest). Griffin was 6-of-8 from the floor and 6-of-6 from the free throw line with five rebounds in the first half. The Blue Jays, trailing early, took a 7-6 lead a 17:13 after two converted free throws from Griffin. Haverford cut it to a one-point game at 15:11 after a lay-up by Chaz Thomas. Hopkins then went on an 11-point run, capped off by a three-pointer by senior T.J. Valerio (Blue Bell, PA/St. Joseph's Prep). With the Blue Jays leading 32-22 with 1:26 to play, Thomas converted back-to-back baskets to make it a six-point heading into the break.
The Blue Jays jumped out to a 10-point lead to start the half before the Fords went on a 13-2 run to take a 43-42 lead with 12:17 to play. The run was capped by a three-pointer by Thomas. Griffin answered with a lay-up, sparking a 7-0 run for Hopkins. Haverford began chipping away at Hopkins lead, tying the game at 56-56 on a lay-up by Greg Rosnick. After a turnover by sophomore Collin Kamm (Avon, NJ/Saint Rose), Mike Fratangelo drained a two-point bucket to give the visitors the lead for good with 39 seconds on the clock. Haverford sealed the upset by going 6-of-7 from the free throw line in the closing seconds.
Griffin finished with a season-high 25 points. He shot 9-of-12 from the floor and 7-of-8 from the free throw line and grabbed seven rebounds. Valerio (14 points) and senior Danny Nawrocki (Syosset, NY/Chaminade) (11 points) also finished in double figures for Hopkins. Thomas led the Fords with 17 points while Fratangelo and Ray Brown each chipped in 15 points.
The Blue Jays return to action on Thursday, January 11 as they travel north to play the Ursinus Bears. Hopkins and Ursinus are currently tied for first in the Centennial Conference with identical 5-1 records. Tip-off for the conferece showdown is set for 8:00 pm in Collegeville, PA.
