ENC Drops Season Opener

The Eastern Nazarene men’s basketball team let the opportunity to start the season on the right foot slip in their season opener as they fell on the road to Suffolk University 76-69.

The difference in the game was rebounding and free throw shooting.

While the Rams were 23-30 from the charity stripe, the Lions were just 5-18. The majority of the damage came from a pair of players, DeAngelo Alston, a career 77% at the line, and Aaron Johnson, a career 64%, who are characteristically well above average free throw shooters. So take those woes with a grain of salt, it was nothing more than an aberration.

Rebounding was a different story as the Lions were outdone on the glass 58-43. Leading the rams on the boards was reigning GNAC Rookie of the Year Matt Pepdjonovic. The B.C. High product collected 23 rebounds, more than half of ENC’s total, and seven of which were offensive. Pepdjonovic added 22 points to his line, recording his first career 20-20 game.

“We allowed him [Pepdjonovic] to muscle up and play his game,” said head coach Jim Aller, “it was a bit disappointing”

The Lions found sound contributions from freshman Eddie Allen. The Marshall, Texas native attained 16 minutes of play and chipped in eight point, corralled four rebounds, two offensive, and dished out an assist, without turning the ball over. This could be a pleasant surprise for the Lions as they strive towards establishing a quality bench.

“I like to play 10 players, I always have,” said Aller, “It would be nice to establish a rotation early and Eddie and Kendall [Sutton] played quality minutes for us.”

There was another satisfying aspect of the season opener. Alston was back on the court for the first time since the 2008-2009 season finale, at Roger Williams. That alone is welcome news, but a much finer tell of how Alston feels, to coming back from a stress fracture in his left foot, is he played all 40 minutes.

“I kept looking over to the scorers table thinking I was going to be subbed out soon,” said Alston, “but coach just ran with me, kept giving me plays to run. I’m tired right now [morning after game] more because I played 40 minutes 12 hours ago, but my foot feels fine.”

Like the beginning of any year, teams play a non conference schedule to establish rhythm and chemistry. The Lions are no different and they have 8 more games to acquire these attributes before they invade, TCCC opponent, Endicott's court.