NEWS

Achile Spadone in a game last season in Belk Arena.

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Despite an eight-point lead at halftime, the Davidson Wildcats fell to East Tennessee State 70-68 on Friday night. 

After shooting just 25 percent from the floor in the first half, the Bucs came out of the locker room torching the net at a 51.6 percent clip in the second half.

As Davidson trailed by as many as five in the final five minutes of play, a pair of threes from Bobby Durkin and Achile Spadone allowed the ‘Cats to settle the score at 64-all with 2:45 remaining.

From there, ETSU’s Ebby Asamoah drained his fourth triple of the night and made a pair of free throws to make it a two-possession game, 70-66, with 12 ticks to go. Although David Skogman converted two at the stripe and Angelo Brizzi forced a Buccaneers’ turnover with five seconds remaining, the Wildcats’ late comeback fell short at the buzzer.

In a first half that saw 25 fouls called, the Wildcats capitalized and connected on 14-of-17 shots at the free throw line to lead 31-23 after 20 minutes.

Davidson started with an 8-2 run in the first three minutes after a pair of buckets from Connor Kochera, before the Bucs came back within one, 10-9, by the 14:45 mark. Durkin got in on the action with a 3-pointer that stretched the Wildcats’ lead to seven, 16-9, while Skogman later scored Davidson’s final field goal of the half with 7:28 on the clock, igniting 11 straight made free throws for the ‘Cats.

Overall, the Wildcats shot 40 percent from the floor, including six treys, and were led by 17 points from Reed Bailey, all in the second half. Skogman finished with 15, and Durkin added another 13.

Up Next
The ‘Cats will turn the page to a 7 p.m. match up with Boston University on Tuesday night in Belk Arena.