MEN'S BASKETBALL LOSES HEARTBREAKER TO SAINT ROSE IN THE SEMIFINALS OF THE NE-10 CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT, 82-81
PLEASANTVILLE, NY- The Pace University men's basketball team fell to the Golden Knights of the College of Saint Rose, 82-81, in the Semifinals of the Northeast-10 Conference Tournament tonight at the Goldstein Health, Fitness and Recreation Center on the Pleasantville campus of Pace University. The Setters fall to 20-12 on the season, while the Golden Knights improve to 21-8. With their win, Saint Rose advances to the finals, where they will square off against the #1 seed and undefeated Bentley College in Waltham, MA. Pace will await a possible at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Division II men's and women's basketball selection shows will be broadcast on broadband via www.NCAAsports.com/dii. The selection shows are set to air this Sunday, March 4th beginning at 10:30 p.m. (EST) and will last approximately a half hour.
Down by two 81-79, with five seconds remaining in the game, Will Monica hit the game wining three-pointer, lifting Saint Rose past Pace. Monica finished the game with a game-high 29 points on 10-for-14 shooting from the field, including 9-for-12 from beyond the arc.
Pace began the game on a 15-7 run, led by Ryan Williams's (Centreville, VA/Paul VI) five points. The Setters controlled the majority of the first half, taking a 42-31 lead into the break. Williams and Desmond Quincy-Jones (Rye, NY/Rye) carried the offensive load scoring 13 and 12 points respectively. As a team, Pace shot 53.6% (15-for-28) from the field, including 7-for-12 (58.3%) from three, while holding Saint Rose to 37.8% (14-for-37) shooting from the field, including just 3-for-13 (23.1%) from downtown.
The Setters would continue their control throughout the second half as they maintained a double-digit lead. After a pair of free throws from Quincy-Jones that put Pace up 80-68 with 1:20 remaining, the Golden Knights would stage their thrilling comeback outscoring the Setters 14-1 to finish the game. Monica and Steve Dagostino combined for 12 points as each converted a pair of threes to lead the comeback. Saint Rose drilled 12 three-pointers on 18 attempts in the second half.
Pace was led by Williams' team-high 21 points, shooting 8-for-14, including 4-for-10 from three. Quincy-Jones contributed with 18 points, while Oneil Morgan (Kingston, Jamaica/Excelsior) recorded a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Carlos Howard (Fort Washington, MD/Gonzaga College High) finished the night with 11 points.
For Saint Rose, Dagostino scored 15 points, while Shanty Robinson and Clayton Longmire finished the game with 12 and 10 respectively.
Turnovers were key as the Setters gave the ball away 16 times,
including 12 in the second half, compared to just eight giveaways
by the visitors. Pace held the rebounding edge 42-33.