Babson Park, FL – The Webber International Men's Basketball team fell to Shawnee State University in a closely contested matchup, ending with a final score of 76-68. Despite a standout performance from Orlando Thomas, the Warriors were unable to hold off a resilient Shawnee State team that capitalized on key opportunities in the second half.
The first half saw Webber International start strong, shooting 50% from the field and an impressive 53.8% from beyond the arc. Orlando Thomas was electric, scoring 21 points in the half, including three three-pointers, helping the Warriors establish a 14-point lead early. However, Shawnee State responded with sharp shooting of their own, led by Tre Beard and Elkin Ramirez, who combined for 26 points in the first half. By halftime, Shawnee State had closed the gap, trailing 35-33.
In the second half, Shawnee State took control with disciplined play, shooting 41.4% from the field and converting 10-of-12 free throws. Beard continued his hot hand, finishing with a game-high 22 points, while Donovan Lovelace added 14 points and 8 rebounds to dominate the paint. Webber's offense struggled to maintain its first-half efficiency, shooting just 35.5% in the final 20 minutes. Thomas added 8 more points to finish with a game-high 29, but his efforts weren't enough to overcome Shawnee State's balance.
Key contributors for the Warriors included Khalyl Simmons, who tallied 12 points, and Zachary O'Callaghan, who chipped in 9 points. Jordan Golden led the Warriors on the boards with 9 rebounds, and Amir Benelbasry added energy off the bench with 6 rebounds.
Shawnee State's depth proved crucial, as their bench added 14 points, and they won the rebounding battle 29-31. The Bears also capitalized on turnovers, scoring 14 points off Webber's 12 turnovers to secure the win.
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