Men's Basketball

January 23, 2010

Men's Basketball's Win Streak Ends With 77-60 Loss At Assumption


Box score: http://www.smcathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2009-10/stats/mstmasm.htm.

WORCESTER, Mass. - The Saint Michael's College men's basketball team (8-9, 4-9 Northeast-10 Conference) saw its three-game winning streak come to an end on Saturday in a 77-60 loss at Assumption College.

Junior Nate Birr (Burnsville, Minn./Saint Thomas Academy) had a solid game for the Purple Knights with 14 points, draining 4-of-6 3-pointers. Freshman Travis Warech (Pine Brook, N.J./Montville) led Saint Michael's with 18 points and eight rebounds.

Four players scored in double figures for Assumption (9-9, 6-7 NE-10), led by Ronson Quick's 18 points.

Saint Michael's trailed early, 27-15, with 8:19 left in the first half, but rallied to take a 34-31 lead six minutes later on a 3-pointer from sophomore Sam Cieplicki (South Burlington, Vt./New Hampton (N.H.) School). Assumption rebounded to take a 37-36 lead at the break.

The Purple Knights scored the first point of the second half on a free throw by sophomore Qua'ron Pinckney (Bronx, N.Y./Saint Benedict's Prep (N.J.)) to pull even for the last time at 37-all with 19:45 to go. The Greyhounds then went on a 15-3 run over the next five minutes to open up another double-digit advantage, 52-40. Saint Michael's made one last push, pulling to within 60-56 with 6:52 to go on a lay-up by junior Chris Hurley (Watertown, Mass./Boston College HS). The Greyhounds, however, closed the contest on a 17-4 run to end the Purple Knights' winning streak.

Saint Michael's shot just 35 percent from the field in the contest, compared to 52 percent for Assumption. The Purple Knights were also undone by 20 turnovers.

Saint Michael's returns to action on Tuesday with a 7:30 p.m. contest versus league-rival American International College.

##PURPLEKNIGHTS###