The Middlebury Campus

Issue date: 1/10/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Chris Heinrich Chris Dowd, #45, scored nine points on 3-of-5 shooting from behind the arc, in only 17 minutes. The Panthers beat Skidmore in Pepin Gym, 81-65. [Click to enlarge]

Explosive offense. Stifling defense. The Middlebury men's basketball team showed a bit of each in three straight wins in 2007 over the University of New England (UNE), Skidmore and Colby-Sawyer, boosting the team's record to an impressive 8-3.
Against UNE on Jan. 3, the Panthers relied on their defensive intensity to break open what had been a close, back-and-forth game in the first half. Coming out of intermission with a six point lead, Middlebury held UNE to eight points over the first six minutes of the second half, which allowed the Panthers to increase its lead to 14 by the 14:21 minute mark. A quick spurt by the Nor'easters did not deter the Panthers, as they immediately responded with a 7-0 run of their own that would ultimately put the game out of reach. Middlebury ended the game having forced 21 UNE turnovers, the major catalyst in the Panther victory.
After the game, several Panthers emphasized that their defensive intensity proved crucial in securing the win.
"The biggest reason for our win was the energy we came out with in the second half on the defensive end," said rookie Tim Edwards '09.5. "Our defensive pressure caused turnovers which led to easy baskets in transition."
Added Aaron Smith '09, who led the Panthers with nine rebounds, "Our defensive intensity was definitely strongest in the UNE game. We took them out of their offense by getting in the passing lanes and making deflections, allowing us to score easy fast-break points."
In Saturday's 81-65 win over Skidmore, it was Middlebury's offense that propelled the team to victory. A strong transition game coupled with blistering-hot shooting, especially from beyond the arc, proved a lethal combination that Skidmore could not overcome.
The first half saw Middlebury jump out to an astounding 30-point lead as the team shot .528 from the field. The Panthers' offense ran with remarkable precision and efficiency. Crisp ball movement, off-the-ball screens and constant motion by the players led to an array of open jump shots and lay-ups.

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