NEW LONDON, Conn. –

It was deja vu all over again for the Bears. Much like their last home game vs Babson, Coast Guard was defeated in the final seconds of play despite leading for the majority of the game. With their victory, #18 WPI improves to 18-2, 10-1 NEWMAC. The Engineers will next host Emerson College Wednesday February 5th at 5:00 PM.

The game started with a defensive clinic on both ends of the court by two of the three statistically best defensive squads in the NEWMAC. Despite committing three shot clock violations early in the first, Coast Guard held a 17-14 lead midway through the first half. WPI would soon take the lead back for the first time after two consecutive three pointers made. 

Minutes later in the first, freshman Aiden Dabbondanza(Gaithersberg, MD) had his breakout performance for the Bears. Newly into the game, Dabbondanza retook the lead for CGA 25-24 when he converted both ends of a 1-1 at the line. On the following WPI possession, the freshman Dabbondanza had a key block. On the offensive end, he got a clutch rebound and was fouled on the put back shot, again converting both. Aiden would then draw a key charge with 2:30 to go in the half which led to points for Coast Guard.

The teams went into the half with WPI leading 32-31. It was a back and forth defensive first half with seven ties, nine lead changes, and the teams combining for 14 turnovers. WPI shot just 33.3% from the field, with Coast Guard shooting just 39.3%. From three, WPI shot 33.3% with Coast Guard going 0-6 from beyond the arc in the half. 

On their first possession in the 2nd half, Coast Guard both took the lead back and put an end to their three point shooting woes when Luke Farrell(Ortley Beach, NJ) drilled a three pointer. Coast Guard would hold that lead into the halfway point of the half with WPI always threatening; never allowing the CGA lead to grow beyond seven, but the Engineers unable to take the lead back. 

Under eight to go in the game, with some guards in foul trouble, Coast Guard again turned to hired gun off the bench Aiden Dabbondanza for three minutes in crunch time. Much like he did in the first half, the freshman guard left his mark immediately, with a key assist followed by a defensive rebound that would lead to a fast break Elijah Parent(Bristol, CT) three. 

As the game neared its conclusion, Coast Guard maintained the lead but WPI kept inching closer. With the Bears up just three with four minutes remaining, freshman defensive standout Colin Huang(Irvine, CA) gave the Bears a huge steal to prevent the Engineers from potentially tying the score in a one possession game. 

With 2:47 to go, WPI called a timeout and coming out of said timeout would take the lead in the game for the first time since the first seconds of the second half on a desperation shot at the end of the shot clock. Coast Guard however, would take that lead right back when Trevor Parks(Oldsmar, FL) made both of his free throws on the other end. For the third possession in a row, the lead would change when WPI made two free throws on their end. That lead would hold until just over one minute remaining in regulation when a slashing Declan Rooney(Seattle, WA) made a contested layup in traffic to again give Coast Guard a one point lead. 

With 38 seconds to go, Tim Reidy(Needham, MA) hit what could possibly have been the dagger in the game with a three pointer to give WPI a two point lead. With six seconds on the shot clock and 12.4 on the game clock, Coach Jaskiewicz was forced to call a timeout for the Bears. In a game of chess, after seeing the CGA out of bounds set, WPI called their final timeout. Out of the timeout, Luke Farrell took charge for the Bears and made a highly contested layup to tie the score with just 4.7 seconds to go in the game. The WPI half court heave would fall just short to send the game of the year in the NEWMAC to overtime with a score of 66-66.

In overtime, the teams would trade scores early, knotting the score at 68. The first haymaker of OT was thrown by WPI with an and one opportunity at the 3:05 mark. The Engineers would miss the free throw however, leaving the lead at just two. Luke Farrell would cut that to one, going 1/2 at the line to cut the lead to one. At 2:23 to go in OT, with WPI leading by just one, Coast Guard's defense appeared to have made the key stop they needed. Reminiscent of Gary Payton on defense, Coast Guard's gnat on defense Colin Huang forced a jump ball with the Engineers, leaving them to inbound the ball with just two seconds on the shot clock. On the inbound, Luke Farrell knocked the pass away, giving the Bears what appeared to be a fast break opportunity but a controversial foul call on the junior forward gave the Engineers two shots at the line. They would make one to give WPI a two point lead. Farrell himself would be fouled on the following possession, making both to tie the score at 71-71.

Under 30 seconds to go, Farrell would again come up clutch, making another free throw to give the Bears their first lead in OT. 

Leading by one with 15 seconds to go, Coast Guard appeared to be poised to take control when a foul was called on WPI, sending CGA to the line but just after the whistle a flagrant foul was called on the Bears giving the Engineers two shots and the ball after the Bears free throws. Both teams made their two free throws but on the WPI flagrant rewarded possession, they made the Bears pay with a made jumper with just 5.7 seconds remaining. Luke Farrell's last second attempt in heavy traffic with much contact fell short and WPI would leave New London victorious with a hard fought 75-74 win.

Coast Guard, now 7-12(3-7 NEWMAC) will next face Clark University on the road Wednesday at 5:00 PM.