Twenty offensive boards and thirty-two trips to the free throw line aided the Eagles in earning a place in the Championship game of the ENC Crusader Classic on Saturday.  In an otherwise even game, the second semifinal game of the Classic was determined not by free throw shooting percentage, but by the sheer number of times the Eagles were sent to the free throw line.  Shooting just 52% from the charity stripe was all they needed as the Rams committed 27 fouls on the night and the Eagles made 17 of 32 attempts.

Trailing 41-32 at the intermission, the Rams made a 12-2 run to get back into the game and take a 44-43 lead with 16 minutes remaining.  But the Eagles quickly responded with their own 11-0 run halfway through the second stanza to lead by as many as 10, at 54-44.  Pulling back to within three, 61-58, with a minute to play in regulation, the Rams could not find the final shot to close the gap, as the Eagles Rich Bailey (Bronx, NY) sunk two free throws and Gerard Johnson (Binghamton, NY) added another with just under :10 seconds to and secure what would be a 64-60 victory.

While the Eagles collectively were not so hot on the free throw line, Fabian Ferreira (Queens, NY) knocked down 10 of 12 free throws en route to 17 points on the night.  Teammate Gerard Johnson followed with a double-double (13 points and 13 rebounds) as his inside presence was felt.

The Rams shot a hot 81% from the free throw line to keep them in this game, but their field goal shooting percentage of 25% in the second half thwarted their chances.  Josue Almodovar (Holyoke, Mass.) converted 10 of 12 from the free throw line and was 6 of 13 from the field to lead all scorer's in the game with 22 points, an his 11 rebounds earned him
a double-double.

Green Mountain (3-1) moves on to face Mitchell College in the ENC Crusader Classic Championship at 4:00 pm on Saturday, December 6th, while Framingham State (4-5) faces Eastern Nazarene in the Consolation game at 2:00 pm.