Men's Basketball

SMC/Chestnut Hill Box score: http://www.smcathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2009-10/stats/mchcstm.htm.
 
COLCHESTER, Vt. - Saint Michael's College and Mercyhurst College each posted victories at the DoubleTree Doc Jacobs Classic in men's basketball action on Friday at the Ross Sports Center. In the first game, Mercyhurst defeated Concordia (N.Y.) College, 74-59, and in the nightcap, Saint Michael's earned an 81-53 win versus Chestnut Hill College.

In the nightcap, Saint Michael's (1-1) went on a 31-7 run to start the second half, turning an eight-point halftime lead into a runaway victory. Freshman Travis Warech (Pine Book, N.J./Montville) led all scorers for the second straight game to start his collegiate career, netting 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field. Sophomore Qua'ron Pinckney (Bronx, N.Y./Saint Benedict's Prep) had a solid all-around game with 12 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals in the win, while freshman Derek Knutty (Rocklin, Calif./Whitney) tallied 10 points and five rebounds off the bench in his first college action.

For Chestnut Hill (1-2), senior Julian McFadden (Philadelphia, Pa.) was the lone player to score in double figures, recording 14 points. The Griffins forced 21 Saint Michael's turnovers, but shot just 33 percent from the field in the contest, and were outrebounded 42-28.

Chestnut Hill's only lead of the contest was 2-0, as the Purple Knights then went on a 15-2 run - including 10 points from Warech - to lead 15-4 five minutes into the contest. The Griffins rallied to tie the score at 23-all with six minutes left in the opening period, but Saint Michael's was able to push its lead to 38-30 at intermission.

Saint Michael's then took control in the second half, as the Purple Knights held their visitors to just seven points in the first 13 minutes of the period. Knutty scored eight of his points after the break, as Saint Michael's lead swelled to a game-high 32 points (69-37) with seven minutes to go. The Griffins could get no closer than 21 points after that.

In the opener, Mercyhurst (2-0) led from start to finish to earn the win. For the Lakers, senior Elliot Engelmann (Woodridge, Ill.) had a game-high 17 points and added seven rebounds, while classmate Jordan Armstrong (Muncie, Ind.) netted 13 points. Junior Heiden Ratner (Las Vegas, Nev.) and senior Nnamdi Nnadili (Washington, D.C.) scored 11 and 10 points, respectively, as the Lakers shot 64 percent in the second half to hold off the Clippers.

For Concordia (0-1), freshman Argelix Gil (Brooklyn, N.Y.) scored 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting in his collegiate debut. Junior William Eason (Springfield, Mass.) tallied 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds in the loss. Concordia was hurt by 12-of-23 shooting at the foul line, and committed 21 turnovers.

The DoubleTree Doc Jacobs Classic concludes on Saturday, as Chestnut Hill and Mercyhurst square off at 1 p.m., followed by Saint Michael's and Concordia at 3 p.m.