MEN'S BASKETBALL DEFEATS LE MOYNE IN
NE-10 QUARTERFINALS, 79-70
PACE ADVANCES TO THE SEMIFINALS OF THE NE-10 TOURNAMENT
PLEASANTVILLE, NY- The second seeded Pace University men's basketball team defeated the 10th seeded Le Moyne College Dolphins in the Quarterfinals of the Northeast-10 Conference Tournament, by the score of 79-70, tonight at the Goldstein Health, Fitness and Recreation Center on the Pleasantville campus of Pace University. The Setters improve to 20-11, while the Dolphins end their season at 14-15. With their win tonight, Pace notches their sixth 20-win season in school history, with their last 20-win season coming during the 2001-02 campaign.
Pace took control of the game early, building a 16-point lead, with the help of a 23-7 run to start the half. Ryan Williams (Centreville, VA/Paul VI) led the run scoring seven points, while Oneil Morgan (Kingston, Jamaica/Excelsior) and Gibraltar White (Gautier, MS/Gautier) each scored six in the run. The Dolphins answered right back as they used a 10-0 run to cut their deficit to six. Le Moyne continued their rally as they tied the game for the first time at 37, with 2:18 remaining in the half and took their first lead of the half on a three-pointer from Phil Schoff minutes later. The Dolphins would take a 42-40 lead into the break. Schoff ended the half with 13 points, shooting a perfect 5-for-5 from the field.
The Setters would quickly take back the lead as they began the second half on a 5-0 run. Pace took back control of the game for good as they built their advantage back to double digits using a 21-7 run. Desmond Quincy-Jones (Rye, NY/Rye) led the Setter run dropping 10 points. The Dolphins would be unable to recover from their nearly six minute scoring drought, as the Setters would cruise on to the win.
Pace had five players score in double figures, led by Williams' game-high 18 points on 7-for-11 shooting, including 4-for-6 from three. White contributed with 17 points going 5-for-10 from beyond the arc. Quincy-Jones chipped in with 12 points, while Carlos Howard (Fort Washington. MD/Gonzaga College High) and Morgan finished the night with 10 points apiece. Morgan recorded a double-double, grabbing a team-high 15 rebounds (nine offensive).
Leading Le Moyne was Schoff who finished with a team-high 17 points on 7-for-12 shooting. Jonathon Joshua chipped in with 13 points, while Laurence Ekperigin recorded a double-double with 11 points and a game-high 17 rebounds (nine offensive).
Pace held the rebounding edge over Le Moyne 46-44.
The Setters return to action on Thursday, March 1st
as they play host to the third seeded College of Saint Rose Golden
Knights in the Semifinals of the Northeast-10 Conference
Tournament. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. The two
schools split their season series with each team winning on their
home court.