EQUINOX CLASSIC
Game 1 W&L (0-0) vs. Haverford (0-0)
(at Swarthmore) November 16, 2001 6:00 pm
Game 2 W&L (0-0) vs. Swarthmore (0-0)
(at Haverford) November 17, 2001 6:00 pm
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THE TEAMS:
Joining W&L in the Equinox Classic will be the two host schools,
Haverford and Swarthmore, along with Tufts University. The Generals
will not face Tufts, only the two host schools. W&L is 2-2 all-time
against Haverford and 4-2 all-time against Swarthmore.
SCOUTING THE COMPETITION:
Haverford is coming off a 6-18 campaign last season. The Fords return
three starters, including 6-foot-9 junior center Cam Scribner. Scribner
averaged 7.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game and amassed a school-record
81 blocked shots. Haverford also returns 6-foot-4 junior forward Greg
Ley (3.7 pts., 4.1 reb.) and 5-foot-9 junior guard Javier Garcia (4.8
pts., 1.6 reb.). Swarthmore is coming off a 4-20 season in 2000-01.
The Garnet Tide return four starters, but lost its leading scorer,
David Pearce, (15.5 pts., 3.8 reb.) to graduation. Sophomore forward
Chris Loeffler (9.8 pts., 5.5 reb.), senior forward Kyle Lewis (9.4
pts., 5.1 reb.), junior guard Eran Ganot (9.2 pts., 5.4 reb.) and
sophomore guard Jacob Letendre (8.8 pts., 3.3 reb.) all return to
the lineup.
NEXT WEEK FOR W&L:
The Generals will return to action on Tuesday as they host Wesley
College in a 1:00 pm contest. W&L then plays host to Greensboro
College on Sunday at 3:00 pm.
THE HEAD COACH:
Jeff Lafave (Southern Connecticut St. '93) is in his third season
as the head coach at W&L. Lafave posted a 9-16 overall mark in
his first season and led the Generals to their first ODAC Tournament
win since the 1989-90 season. He is 13-36 (.265) overall, 0-0 against
Swarthmore and Haverford. Lafave is assisted by Doug Stewart (Brown
'94) and Barry Machado (Dartmouth '66). Stewart comes to W&L from
the Washington Generals where he served a player-coach for the squad
that travels the world playing the Harlem Globetrotters. Haverford
is led by Michael Mucci (Villanova '77), who is in his seventh season
as head coach. He holds a 39-105 (.271) overall record at Haverford,
0-2 against W&L. Swarthmore is coached by Lee Wimberly (Stanford
'68), who is in his 15th season at the school. Wimberly is 115-227
(.453) overall, 1-0 against Washington and Lee.
WHEN WE LAST MET:
W&L last met Haverford and Swarthmore in the 1997 Equinox Classic.
In the opening game, guard Kevin Cobbin hit two free throws with six
seconds remaining to lift Washington and Lee past Swarthmore, 50-48.
W&L led by as many as 11 points before Swarthmore rallied behind
five second-half three-pointers, including two by forward Mike Schall
in the final five minutes. The Garnet tied the game, 48-48, on a backdoor
layup by J.T. Haskins with 10 seconds remaining, but as Cobbin raced
up the sideline he was fouled. Cobbin hit both free throws to give
the Generals a two-point lead and a three-point attempt by Swarthmore's
Tim Schofield bounced off the rim as time expired. Center Rich Peterson
led the Generals with 15 points and seven rebounds and Scott Hudson
added 12 points. W&L outrebounded Swarthmore 33-24.
Phin Barnes scored 14 of his game-high 16 points in the second half
as Haverford defeated Washington and Lee, 59-52, in the championship
game. W&L pulled to within 48-47 on a basket by center Rich Peterson
with 1:33 remaining, but Barnes was then fouled on a three-point attempt
and hit all three free throws to give the Fords a 51-47 lead. W&L
got a pair of free throws from guard Will Ballard with 55 seconds
remaining to trim the margin to two points, but Barnes rebounded a
missed shot by Kijauna Saunders and scored to give Haverford a 53-49
lead and the Generals got no closer. Forward Scott Hudson led the
Generals with 13 points, hitting all six of his shots from the field.
Peterson added 10 points and was named to the all-tournament team.
FOR OPENERS:
Washington and Lee will be playing in its 15th season-opening tournament
since the 1970-71 season. The Generals are 12-18 (.400) in those contests
and have won two tournament championships (1987 and 1988 W&L Tip-off
Tournament).
GENERALS vs. PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOLS:
Both of W&L's opponents in the Equinox Classic (Haverford, Swarthmore)
are from the Keystone State. W&L has played 55 games against teams
from the state of Pennsylvania and claims a 29-26 (.527) record in
those contests.
W&L vs. THE CENTENNIAL CONFERENCE:
Both of W&L's opponents in the Equinox Classic are also members
of the Centennial Conference. W&L sports an 18-13 (.581) all-time
record against the current members of the Centennial. The following
is a breakdown of the Generals vs. the members of the Centennial:
Dickinson (3-1)
Franklin & Marshall (2-2)
Gettysburg (0-3)
Haverford (2-2)
Johns Hopkins (5-1)
Swarthmore (4-2)
Ursinus (0-1)
Washington (Md.) (0-1)
Western Maryland (2-1)
GENERALS? HOW ABOUT PRIVATE FIRST CLASS:
W&L boasts one of its youngest teams in recent memory, with no
seniors, only four juniors, two sophomores and seven freshmen.
KEEP EM' UNDER 60:
Washington and Lee has been known is recent years for its slow the
pace style of play and it has been successful. During the last five
seasons, W&L is 19-9 (.679) when allowing its opponent 59 points
or less.
WELCOME BACK:
Junior guard Toussaint Crawford returns to the W&L roster this
season after a year absence to focus on academics. Crawford was W&L's
top freshman scorer during the 1999-2000 season when he averaged 7.2
points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game. He tallied a career-high
27 points in a four-overtime win over Lynchburg that season.
-- GENERALS --