'On This Day' Express Advance to First Conference Final in Inaugural Season

'On This Day' is a Wells College Athletics feature series taking a look back on events that occurred on this day, Feb. 28, twelve years ago in 2009.

In just the team's first season, the men's basketball program advanced to the NEAC conference final after defeating the University of Dallas in a semifinal victory by a 61-59 score on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2009, at SUNY IT.

For the second-consecutive playoff win, Darrell Bullock sealed the win in the game's final seconds. After hitting a 3-pointer the previous night to secure a 59-54 quarterfinal win against SUNY Cobleskill, Bullock did it again but this time with a jumper to break a tie game and give Wells the win with three seconds. Collectively, Bullock scored 14 points in the final minute of the playoff wins.

Both Bullock and freshmen Greg Jones finished with 16 points, while NEAC Player of the Week Juan Paulino finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Down by seven to start the second half, the Express would battle back to take a six-point lead with 4:46 left. Dallas would make one last stand going on 7-0 run and taking the lead by one, at 57-56, with 50 seconds remaining.  Bullock would respond driving his way to the bucket to lay it in while being fouled. He would hit his free throw completing the 3-point play and giving Wells the 59-57 lead with 33 seconds remaining.

Dallas would come right back and tie the game 59-59 on a Noah Pruit lay-up with 23 seconds to go. After  a time out by Wells. Bullock would find an open shot sinking the jumper with three-seconds remaining giving the Express the lead and the eventual win.

Dallas had one last shot to tie the game, but would throw the ball away on the inbounds pass sealing the victory for Wells.

With the win the Express will play No. 1 SUNY IT in the NEAC Championship with the winner receiving an automatic bid to the 2009 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament.

Boxscore: https://wells-express.com/sports/mbkb/2008-09/boxscores/20090228_1zua.xml?view=boxscore