By Dillon Flanigan
Sports Editor
Forward Antonio Chandler, a senior, attempts to block a shot.
Minutes after the Women’s team were upset in a double overtime, the Men’s Basketball team took the court.
In game two of the home and home series against Saint Michael’s College, the Owls snapped their two-game losing streak, 85-73 on Saturday, Feb. 1.
An 11-9 record overall and 500 in the NE10 puts the team in seventh place out of 11 teams in the conference. A season marred by injuries dating back to last summer has held the potential success of the team in limbo.
“Just injuries, injuries make us 500 seasons so far,” Head Coach Scott Burrell said. “But we’re a good team. We’re battling through tough times. We’re gonna be fine, though.”
In the game Saturday, people got to witness a young talented group of players play cohesively for 40 minutes. For both sides, it seemed like the first half flew by as there was very little to no stoppage in play. In a rarity, that was made up in the second half as 21 of the joint total 28 personal fouls were called.
The Owls maintained control throughout the game. Guard Isaac Hester, a sophomore, hit a jumper to break an 11-11 tie five minutes into the first half. The remaining 35 minutes, they put together a defensive show with ease as they held the lead for the entire time. Even stretching it to 20 points midway through the second half.
Forward Cherif Diarra, a junior, had two blocks, 11 rebounds and 15 points. Diarra, who played in his 16th game of the season, and the team had a total of four blocks and four steals while obtaining 24 defensive rebounds.
“When we are all on the same page and we get enough stops, it just builds momentum. It gives us a lot of energy, and when we just build off that, that’s our fuel,” Diarra said. “We just knew we had to finish the game, get stops, get rebounds and we’re gonna score. The offense gonna come through.”
As the reigning NE10 defensive player of the year, Diarra’s performance did not go unnoticed by Burrell.
“He’s a competitor at both ends of the court. Unsung hero. Doesn’t get a lot of shots, a lot of shot attempts, but he creates for other people and makes the right play the majority of time,” Burrell said. “He’s the heart and soul of our team.”
Over the last 10 months, the crew has faced a myriad of changes. Diarra along with guards Sean James, a senior and Christian Joe, sophomore, are the only three who have stepped on the hardwood this season who a year ago, reached the Division II Playoffs for the first time since 2017.
Center Evan Gutkowski was on the team last year, but he has been working his way back from an injury lost 2024 campaign.
The bug has clouded the expectations of the team with guard Logan Bagshaw, a senior and forward Kazell Stewart, a junior, having a lost 2025 season who both played major minutes in the past.
Missing 20% of the games so far, the crowd was silent as Diarra landed awkwardly on his hip but remained in the game.
“If we stay healthy, we’ll be good. I think we have a deep team,” Burrell said. “We’re not a big team, but we’re a good team that can make shots and play a lot of different positions. So got to keep Cherif healthy.”
