Box Score Gwynedd Mercy 97, Utica 93 -
Box Score
Rochester, N.Y. (12/9/2011) – The Utica College men's basketball team led by as many as 15 points towards the end of the first half of play, but Gwynedd Mercy used a 32-22 run in a span of 13:29 to open the second half, as the Griffins took the lead for good, earning a 97-93 non conference victory over Utica in the semi-final game of the 26th Annual Harold J. Brodie Tournament at Rochester Institute of Technology Friday night. The Pioneers will now take on York College in the consolation game Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.
UC has lost three straight games and its record fell to 3-4, while Gwynedd Mercy - based out of Gwynedd Valley, Pa. – moved its record to 6-3 overall.
Four of UC's five starters scored in double-digits and the Pioneers came out of the gates on fire for second time in three games. UC shot 61.8 % (21-of-34) from the floor in the first half of play, including 9-of-13 from 3-point range. The Pioneers could not quite keep the pace up in the final 20 minutes and the Griffins stayed the course, outscoring Utica by 13 in the second half, on their way to a four point victory. Gwynedd Mercy punched its ticket to the championship game where it will take on RIT at 3 p.m. Saturday.
UC was led by the usual suspects, senior
Reggie German (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford), juniors
Jeff Ward (Ossining, NY/Ossining High School) and
Matt Baldwin (Gloversville, NY/Gloversville), and freshman point guard
Aaron Nevins (Buffalo, NY/Canisius). German posted 18 points and a team-high 12 rebounds, while Ward added 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the floor. Baldwin and Nevis each posted 11 points apiece.
Sophomore forward
Jevin McClendon (Poughkeepsie, NY/Our Lady of Lourdes) came off the bench and knocked down 2-of-3 from behind the arc, while freshman Walkery Mills (seven points) and sophomore
Chris Jeffers (Albany, NY/Bishop Maginn) (seven points, four rebounds) continued to provide quality minutes for UC.
--- www.ucpioneers.com ---
