Courtesy Williams Sports Information

Box Score

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – Top-seeded Williams downed defending NESCAC Men's Basketball champion Middlebury on Sunday afternon 64-58 in a contest where Williams once led by as many as 17.

The Ephs win their first NESCAC title since 2007 fourth conference crown overall. Middlebury won its only title in 2009.

A Jake Wolfin three off a Williams miss at 3:06 drew Middlebury within six at 60-54, but from there the Ephs used good defense and clutch free throw shooting by sophomore guard James Wang to seal the victory. Wang converted all four of his free throws on two 1-and-1 attempts in the final minute.

Wang was the lone Eph in double figures netting a game-high 19. Senior center Joe Geoghegan added eight points and a game-high 15 rebounds.

Williams won the battle on the glass with a 40-34 margin. Ryan Sharry and Tim Edwards led the Panthers with seven.

Middlebury did not help itself at the free throw line making just 7 of 17, while Williams converted 12 of 16. The Ephs out shot the Panthers from the floor 44% (23-52) to 34% (21-61).

Williams improves to 26-1 on the year and extends its win streak to 17, while Middlebury is now 24-3.

Williams opened up the game with a 10-0 lead and it took Middlebury a timeout and until 3:42 to get on the board and the hoop was a three pointer by Tim Edwards.

The second Middlebury timeout of the first half came after Blake Schultz found Ethan Timmons-Schiffman for a wrap-around lay-in at 12:16 to put Williams on top 18-12.

At 7:19 of the first half Tim Edwards stole the ball and became the Panthers’ all-time leader in steals with 191.

Trailing 32-15 Middlebury mounted a comeback and went on a 13-4 run with Edwards hitting a three, making 2 of 3 free throws, and Jake Wolfin, Jamaal Davis Andrew Locke converting layups and Davis added two charity tosses to pull the Panthers with eight with 36-28.

The Ephs’ Joe Geoghegan netted the final points of the half with a layup with 31 seconds left.

Williams had nine players score in the first half with sophomore guard James wang the leader with seven. Middlebury was led in scoring by Tim Edwards who posted a game-high 11.

Williams held Middlebury to 30% shooting from the floor making 10 of 33 and 3-11 from distance. The Ephs shot 48% hitting on 14 of 29 and 3 of 10 from beyond the arc.

Both teams collected 20 rebounds in the opening half with Ryan Sharry tops for Middlebury with five and the Ephs Joe Geoghegan notching a game-high nine.