United States Coast Guard Academy - Department of Athletics - Men's Basketball

NEW LONDON, CONN.—-(2/6/08)--Senior Al Sowers became Coast Guard’s all-time leader in 3-point field goals and he led all scorers with 20 points while classmate Jeff Prebeck had 14 points and a game-high 14 rebounds including the 1,000th rebound of his career leading the Bears to 60-57 win over Wheaton in a New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) game.

Sowers scored with 1:31 left giving the Bears a 60-56 lead. Sophomore Ben Stehle hit one of two free throws with 27.7 seconds left, Prebeck missed the front end of a one-and-one with 23.8 seconds left, giving Wheaton a chance to tie.

Senior Brent DiGiovanna missed a 3-pointer with seven seconds left, but Stehle grabbed an offensive rebound and the Lyons called timeout with 1.2 second left. Stehle had a good look at a deep 3-pointer at the buzzer, but it was no good.

Coast Guard (12-6, 3-5) never trailed in the first half, led by as many as 12 (34-22) and led 34-24 at halftime. The Bears had a 9-2 run which turned a 20-17 lead into a 29-19 advantage with four minutes left in the half.

The Bears led by as many as 14 in the second half at 40-26 with 17:19 left.

Coast Guard led 58-49 with 5:50 left before Wheaton (12-7, 3-5) scored seven straight on a 3-pointer by freshman Anthony Coppola, a two-point basket by freshman Bobby Perry and finally a two by Coppola with 2:41 left to cut the Bears led to 58-56.

Coppola led Wheaton with 17 points while Stehle had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Coast Guard, which sweeps the season series from Wheaton, shot 37.3 percent from the floor (25-67) and 31.8 percent from 3-point range (7-22) while Wheaton shot 37 percent (20-54) from the floor and 26.3 percent from 3-point range (5-19).

Sowers made three 3-pointers breaking the career mark of Jon Murphy (‘00), who had 235 career trifectas. Sowers finished the night with 236 treys.

Prebeck became just the second Coast Guard Academy player to score 1,000 points and record 1,000 rebounds. Prebeck finished the game with 1,011 career caroms.