Men's Basketball

December 16, 2007

Men's Basketball Collapses In Second Half, Falls To Ohio Valley, 86-78


PURPLE KNIGHTS COLLAPSE IN SECOND HALF, FALL TO OHIO VALLEY AT MERCYHURST TOURNAMENT, 86-78

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 16, 2007

Contact: Will Rothermel

Phone: (207)-337-1036

ERIE, PA- On the opening day of the Mercyhurst College Classic in Erie, Pennsylvania, Saint Michael's (6-3) dropped an 86-78 decision to the Fighting Scots (2-8) despite holding a 14-point advantage at the half. Playing without senior co-captain James Sorrentine (Pawtucket, R.I./Saint Raphael's Academy), senior co-captain Brian Monahan (Kinderhook, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy) and freshman Nate Birr (Burnsville, Minn./St. Thomas Academy) shouldered the load with 19 points apiece in the team's first non-conference loss of the season.

For Ohio Valley, senior guard Omar Campbell (Loraine, Ohio/Loraine County CC) scored 22 of the Fighting Scots 59 second-half points to score a game-high 27 points. Campbell shot 4-6 from behind the arc while also grabbing five rebounds and four steals. Ohio Valley's junior guard Aleka Carr (Parkersburg, WV/Parkersburg) chipped in 12 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three steals in the team's second win of the season and first ever meeting with Saint Michael's.

In place of Sorrentine, Chris Hurley (Watertown, Mass./BC High) scored a career-high 15 points in the starting role on 7-12 from the field. Hurley also added six assists in his first start of the season. Birr's 19 points was also a career-high for the freshman in a game he shot 7-9 from the field, including 3-5 from long range. Sophomore guard Ryan Rodrigues (Acushnet, Mass./New Bedford) and junior forward Mike Iola (West Newbury, Mass./Pentucket Regional) also each chipped in 11 points.

Saint Michael's closes out the Mercyhurst College Classic on Monday, December 17 at 3 p.m. versus Salem International (0-4). The Purple Knights resume Northeast-10 play at Saint Rose on Wednesday, December 19 at 7:30 p.m.

###PURPLE KNIGHTS###