Athletics
Men's Basketball
SMC/Concordia Box Score: http://www.smcathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2009-10/stats/mconstm.htm.
COLCHESTER, Vt. - Saint Michael's College and Chestnut Hill College
each recorded victories to complete play at the DoubleTree Doc
Jacobs Classic in men's basketball action on Saturday at the Ross
Sports Center. In the first game, Chestnut Hill College defeated
Mercyhurst College, 76-68, and in the nightcap, Saint Michael's
posted a 57-51 victory versus Concordia (N.Y.) College.
In the nightcap, Saint Michael's (2-1) rallied from a nine-point halftime deficit to complete a perfect 2-0 weekend at its own tournament. Sophomore Sam Cieplicki (South Burlington, Vt./New Hampton (N.H.) School) scored all 14 of his points in the second half, draining four 3-pointers to help rally the Purple Knights. Classmate Tyler Schilling (Excelsior, Minn./Minnetonka), the tournament's Clifford J. Breiner Most Valuable Player, record a team-high 18 points and a game-best 18 rebounds in the win, while freshman Travis Warech (Pine Brook, N.J./Montville) added 12 points and five rebounds.
For Concordia (0-2), freshman Argelix Gil (Brooklyn, N.Y.) tallied a team-best 19 points and 11 rebounds, while junior William Eason (Springfield, Mass.) added 10 points and nine boards. The duo, however, made just 5-of-18 free throws as the Clippers shot 12-of-26 from the line in the game.
Concordia led by nine at halftime, 29-20, as the Purple Knights committed 12 turnovers in the opening period. Saint Michael's quickly erased its deficit, however, as the Purple Knights took the lead for good at 38-37 with 11:16 left in regulation on a pair of Warech free throws. Saint Michael's was aided by seven straight missed free throws by the Clippers to start the second half, and the Purple Knights held the Clippers to just 18 percent shooting in the second half earn the victory.
In Saturday's opener, Chestnut Hill (2-2) rallied from a nine-point second half deficit to earn the win and bounce back from yesterday's 28-point lost to the host Purple Knights. For the Griffins, freshman Mark DiRugeris Jr. (Woodbury, N.J.) led four players in double figures with 20 points, making 5-of-10 3-pointers. Senior Julian McFadden (Philadelphia, Pa.) added 14 points, five rebounds and five assists, graduate student Larz Jeter (Philadelphia, Pa.) recorded 13 points, and sophomore Ryan Cook (Laurel, Md.) notched 12 points, six rebounds and four steals. Chestnut Hill made 17-of-20 free throws in the second half to hold off the Lakers.
For Mercyhurst (2-1), junior Heiden Ratner (Las Vegas, Nev.) had a team-high 20 points and four assists, making 8-of-14 shots from the field. Seniors Jordan Armstrong (Muncie, Ind.) and Nnamdi Nnadili (Washington, D.C.) scored 13 points apiece, while junior Shelton Jackson (Chicago, Ill.) had 12 points and six rebounds. Mercyhurst committed 21 turnovers to just nine for Chestnut Hill, and the Lakers were just 13-of-21 from the charity stripe.
Saint Michael's returns to action on Tuesday, as the Purple Knights host Northeast-10 Conference rival Franklin Pierce University at 7:30 p.m. in the second game of a doubleheader (the Saint Michael's/Franklin Pierce women begin at 5:30 p.m.). Chestnut Hill next plays on Saturday, November 28, as the Griffins host Dowling College at 3 p.m. Concordia is off until Tuesday, December 8, when the Clippers host Felician College at 7 p.m. Mercyhurst will play again on Tuesday as the Lakers host Roberts Wesleyan College at 7 p.m.
