Grove City Knocks Off W&J In PAC Men’s Hoops 60-52
WASHINGTON, Pa. – Evan Schell bucketed 18 points in 21 minutes off the bench to lead Grove City during a 60-52 PAC men’s basketball victory over Washington & Jefferson on Wednesday night at the Henry Memorial Center.
Schell scored 11 of his game-high 18 points in the first half as the Wolverines built a 29-24 lead. The Wolverines (8-14, 4-9 PAC) grabbed their first lead at the 13:52 mark (9-7) and only trailed for two minutes for the rest of the half.
Grove City knocked down 7-of-17 three-pointers during the first half, including three by Schell, and appeared ready to take a seven-point halftime lead. However, the Wolverines’ Josh Patterson grabbed a late rebound after a missed W&J three-point shot and accidentally lofted the ball back into the basket before time expired, giving W&J two points.
The Wolverines never lost the lead in the second half despite the Presidents (8-15, 6-8 PAC) closing to within two (35-33) four minutes in after junior guard Brett Rubin-Goldstein’s (Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel) jumper.
Mitch Marmelstein’s triple at the 10:38 mark pushed Grove City’s lead to 46-37 and the Wolverines held off a late Presidents’ charge.
Schell made 4-of-10 three-point efforts and was the only Wolverine to score in double figures. Nine different Wolverines got into the scoring column, including Isaiah Reeves, who scored seven points, grabbed six steals and ripped down five boards. Grove City shot just 33 percent (18-of-54), but forced 20 turnovers.
Senior forward Ben Cecchini (Jamestown, N.Y./Jamestown) paced the Presidents with 11 points, nine rebounds, five assists, two blocks and two steals. Sophomore reserve guard Mike Resnik (White Oak, Pa./McKeesport) added 10 points, six rebounds and two steals for W&J which shot 43 percent (23-of-54). The Presidents also held a 36-31 rebounding advantage, but made only 2-of-16 three-point shots (GCC was 9-of-25).
W&J has a week off before its next game, a 7:30 pm contest at Geneva next Wednesday.
