WILLIAMS HITS GAME WINNING THREE-POINTER TO LIFT PACE OVER LE MOYNE, 64-63
PLEASANTVILLE, NY- Ryan Williams' (Centreville, VA/Paul VI) last second three pointer lifted the Pace University men's basketball team over Northeast-10 Conference foe Le Moyne College, 64-63, tonight at the Goldstein Health, Fitness and Recreation Center on the Pleasantville campus of Pace University. The Setters improve to 16-10 overall and 12-6 in the NE-10, while the Dolphins fall to 11-12 overall and 8-10 in conference play.
The first half saw five lead changes as both teams battled for control. Pace scored the first six points of the game, led by Williams, who scored five of the six. Le Moyne took control of the half at the 7:51 mark on a lay-up by Laurence Ekperigin. The Dolphins would take the lead for the rest of the half going into the break with a 41-34 advantage. Matt Cooper, Phil Schoff and Ekperigin each scored 12 points in the half for Le Moyne. The visitors were busy on the glass as they recorded 22 rebounds (13 offensive). The Setters went into the half with a seven -point deficit despite shooting 58.3% (14-for-24) from the field.
The Dolphins controlled much of the second half as they built a 12-point advantage on two different occasions. Down by 12 (53-41) with 13:56 remaining in the ballgame, the Setters were able to chip away at their deficit and eventually tie the game at 61 with 1:22 left. Sophomore Randy Wilson (Peekskill, NY/Peekskill) helped lead the comeback scoring seven points, as Pace outscored Le Moyne 20-8 in that time period. Ekperigin would later give the Dolphins a two-point lead, with :42 seconds remaining, on a put back off an offensive rebound. After missed free throws from both sides, the Setters would have one last shot at pulling out the victory. Grabbing an offensive rebound off of a missed jumper from Gibraltar White (Gautier, MS/Gautier), Williams was able to put up and nail the game winning three-pointer.
Pace had three players score in double-figures, led by Williams' team-high 16 points. White added 15 points, while Wilson finished the night with 12 points and a team-high eight rebounds. The Setters shot 39.0% (23-for-59) from the field and 23.8% (5-for-21) from beyond the arc.
The visitors also had three players in double figure scoring, led by Cooper's game-high 21 points. Ekperigin recorded a double double with 15 points and a game-high 15 rebounds, while Schoff ended the night with 12 points. The Dolphins shot 45.6% (26-for-57) from the field and 22.2% (4-for-18) from three.
Le Moyne held the rebounding edge over Pace 45-33.
The Setters return to action on Saturday, February
10th, as they host the Penmen of Southern New Hampshire
University in Northeast-10 Conference men's basketball action.
Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.