Phoenix Drop Road Game to Five Towns College
Dix Hills, NY - The Vaughn College Phoenix faced a tough road loss to Five Towns College, 98-72, on December 4th in a game that saw Vaughn struggle with shooting and defense. Despite some strong individual performances, the Phoenix could not overcome a dominant second half by Five Towns, who outscored Vaughn 53-37 in the final period.
How It Happened: Vaughn started off the game competitive, staying within striking distance through the first half. The Phoenix trailed by just 10 points at halftime, 45-35, thanks to a strong rebounding effort and the free throw shooting of Ean Chambers. However, Vaughn's offense struggled throughout the game, shooting just 31% from the field and 10% from three-point range. Despite this, they managed to stay close early, with Nathaniel Edwards leading the charge with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
In the second half, Five Towns took control. They outscored Vaughn 53-37, thanks in part to Eian Williams, who scored 20 points and distributed 9 assists. Jon Espinal added 15 points, and Malik Moore chipped in with 19 points and 10 rebounds, pushing the home team to a commanding lead. Vaughn's shooting woes continued, and they were unable to mount a serious comeback as Five Towns extended their advantage.
Key Performances:
Ean Chambers was the standout for Vaughn, delivering 21 points and 9 rebounds. His efficient free-throw shooting (9-12) kept Vaughn within range, but his performance alone wasn't enough to overcome the offensive depth of Five Towns.
Nathaniel Edwards contributed 18 points and 10 rebounds, but his shooting struggles (6-25 FG, 1-9 3PT) were a major factor in Vaughn's offensive inefficiency. Joshua Waithe added 8 points and 6 rebounds, but no other Phoenix player was able to find a consistent rhythm offensively.
Key Contributors:
Cedric Green and Bartosz Sawon both had strong efforts, with Green grabbing 2 rebounds and contributing 1 point in 18 minutes, while Sawon posted 10 points and 14 rebounds. However, despite their best efforts, Vaughn was outpaced by the well-rounded attack of Five Towns.
Team Stats: Vaughn struggled offensively, shooting just 31% from the field (26-85) and 10% from three-point range (2-20). They did hit 64% of their free throws (18-28), but the lack of offensive consistency was a major issue. On the other side, Five Towns shot 46% from the field (39-85) and 30% from three-point range (7-23), while making 52% of their free throws (13-25). Five Towns also dominated on the boards, out-rebounding Vaughn 55-61.
Defensively, Vaughn forced 12 turnovers and grabbed 6 steals, but they could not slow down Five Towns' high-powered offense. The home team was able to take advantage of Vaughn's shooting struggles and the Phoenix's inability to contain their attackers.
Next Up: Vaughn will travel to BACE Academy on Saturday, December 14, as they look to bounce back from this tough loss and continue their pursuit of success for the season.