Late Grant Meyer tip-in and 23 points from Alex Rubin sends Ephs home with 3-1 record in Italy

Rome, Italy, August 23, 2008

The Williams College men's basketball team pulled out a hard-fought 96-95 victory, on a tip-in by Eph senior forward Grant Meyer with three seconds remaining in the fourth and last game of the Ephs' trip to Italy.

Prior to the 10:00 AM game, Williams' head coach Mike Maker stressed the need for the team to come out and play focused, tough basketball, despite the physical toll the trip had taken on the players. However, it took a while for the players to heed this request, as the Ephs came out sluggish and allowed their opponent, an Italian B-League professional team from Rome, to jump out to an early lead. Toward the end of the first period, the team from Rome had stretched the lead to 32-16.

In the second quarter though, the Ephs refocused their efforts, refusing to back down, assisted by the sharp shooting of junior guard Alex Rubin, who finished with 23 points on 7-9 shooting. "When we were down 16, we basically had two options. We could either cave in and call it a day, or stay focused and climb back into the game," Rubin said. "We were tired physically, but we were mentally focused and determined to crawl back into the game." 

Unselfishness on the offensive end and defensive grit, which have emerged as core values for this year's Eph squad, played integral roles in the comeback. "We have a group of very unselfish players, which cares about the team more than the individual, so everyone is looking to make the extra pass and get open looks," stated Rubin. At the same time in the second quarter, the team buckled down on the defensive end, forcing a few turnovers that led to easy baskets.  At the half, the Ephs trailed by only one.

In the third quarter, the Ephs came out with the momentum and took the lead. However, the Italian team refused to let the Ephs pull away, knocking down timely three-pointers to keep themselves in the game. The fourth quarter witnessed many lead changes, with the Ephs leading by as many as eight and the Italians by as many as six. However, with a little under a minute left and the Ephs down by one, Blake Schultz hit a three from the left corner, putting the Ephs up by two.  After getting a stop on the next possession, the Ephs came down and failed to convert on another three, allowing the Italians another chance to take the lead. The Italians capitalized, hitting a three with 18 seconds left, to take a one-point lead 95-94.

With the clock ticking down, Eph junior wing Blake Schultz drove the ball from the left side, pulling up just outside the lane, but missing an attempted bank shot. Fortunately, Meyer was waiting for the rebound, and elevating, tapped the ball with his left hand, guiding it into the hoop, giving the Ephs a 96-95 advantage.

After such a physically and emotionally draining game, you might expect the team to rest and recuperate, but not this group. No, immediately following the game, the Ephs set off for Rome and an afternoon in the Vatican.

At three o'clock the Eph coalition arrived in Vatican City, the seat of the Papacy, and home to countless priceless works of art. First on the itinerary was a guided tour of the Vatican museum. The tour featured a walk through the Vatican corridors lined with ancient artwork, and culminated with the viewings of Raphael's The School of Athens and the Sistine Chapel, notable for Michelangelo's painting on the ceiling. In seeing these two eminent works of art, senior co-captain and art-studio major Kevin Snyder commented, "Today, I am checking off a bullet on my must-see-before-I-die list."

After exiting the Sistine Chapel, the group made their way to St. Peter's Basilica, which, as the largest cathedral in the world, is the centerpiece of the Vatican. The Ephs stood in awe of its magnificence. St. Peter's Basilica combined sheer size, architectural brilliance and beauty with a divine glory that could not be paralleled. "There are just no words that can describe the beauty and history of this place. I am completely in awe," commented Coach Maker on the splendor of St. Peter's.

Leaving the cathedral, the Eph coalition gathered in the center of St. Peter's Square for a photo shoot, many imagining what it would be like to be amongst the throngs of people who arrive in the square to hear to Pope speak. Maybe next time.

At night, the Ephs ventured out into Rome to explore the city's night life.