CAMBRIDGE, Mass. –

After an impressive second half comeback by the Bears, CGA and MIT traded leads for the final five minutes of the game with Coast Guard ultimately losing to MIT 98-97 to fall below .500 on the season(6-7) and 2-2 in the NEWMAC. The victory for MIT improves the Engineers to 6-7 on the season(2-3 NEWMAC). MIT will go on the road to face Emerson Thursday January 16th at 7:00 PM.

MIT led comfortably at numerous points in the second half, leading by as many as 15 five minutes into the half. But trailing 59-44, the Bears woke up. Over the next eight minutes, they went on a 23-8 run to tie the score at 67-67. CGA would take their first lead since early in the 1st half when Trevor Parks(Oldsmar, FL) made a fast break layup following a Cameron Brown(Ellicott City, MD) steal. After MIT made a three pointer to take the lead back, CGA would grab it right back in historic fashion. 

Trailing by two, senior guard Declan Rooney(Seattle, WA) was fouled. With the first free throw made, he both tied the game and scored career point number 999. With the following free throw, he gave CGA the 71-70 lead and scored historic point number 1,000. Rooney is just the 22nd man in Coast Guard history to score 1,000 points. Said coach Jaskiewicz on the achievement: "Declan is one of the hardest workers I have coached here at the Academy. He has earned every point he has recorded and he is a great example for the younger players". 

The two teams would exchange punches for the next three minutes, trading blows. With five to go, in a tie game, a Cameron Brown tip to Elijah Parent(Bristol, CT) led to a Ben Yagey(Highlands Ranch, CO) lead taking field goal from the elbow. Just seconds later, Yagey would record a steal and get fouled, sinking both free throws to give the Bears their largest lead of the day at four points. 

The next two minutes was again back and forth for the teams and after MIT took an 81-80 lead on a three pointer, Luke Farrell(Ortley Beach, NJ) would not let the Engineers keep that lead for long. The junior forward was fouled with 3:45 remaining and would have two shots. His previously career high in a game was 21 and Farrell's two made free throws gave him points 28 and 29. He ultimately finished with 37 points, shattering his previous career high.

While losing by a point at the end, the Bears were not without dramatic moments in the final minutes including a Cameron Brown clutch block with two minutes remaining in a tie game, a Declan Rooney three with under 10 seconds to go, and a Luke Farrell three at the buzzer.

Coast Guard will host Springfield College this Thursday January 16th at 7:00 PM.