MEN'S BASKETBALL FALLS TO SAINT MICHAEL'S 93-86
COLCHESTER, VT - The Pace University men's basketball team dropped a Northeast-10 Conference game this afternoon to the Purple Knights of Saint Michael's College, 93-86, at the Ross Sports Center in Colchester, VT. The Setters fall to 1-3 on the season and an even 1-1 in the NE-10, while the Purple Knights improve to 4-0 overall, 2-0 in conference play.
Saint Michael's got off to a quick start building a 10-point lead, 17-7 with 13:31 remaining in the half. James Sorrentine led the run scoring 8 of the 17 points. The Setters would battle back using a 15-5 run tying the game at 22 capped by a Maurice Douglas (Waldorf, MD/South Maryland Christian) lay up with 9:00 minutes left in the opening half. Pace would build a slight lead for much of the remainder of the half before a buzzer beating jumper from Tom Piotrkiewicz tied the game at 40 heading into the break. Ryan Williams (Centreville, VA/Paul VI) led all scorers with 13 first half points on 4-for-7 shooting from the field, including a perfect 3-for-3 from three. Sorrentine led the Purple Knights with 11 points on 4-for-7 shooting from the field, including 3-for-6 from three.
Pace led for much of the beginning of the second half building its largest lead of the game, 58-51, at the 14:42 mark, but Saint Michael's would come back and eventually tie the game at 68 with 9:00 minutes remaining in the game. A Laurence McGhee (Linden, NJ/Linden) lay up at the 8:02 mark would give Pace back the lead, 72-71, but it would not last long as Saint Michael's took back the lead in their next possession. The Setters would tie the game for the eighth time at 76 on a lay up by Randy Wilson (Peekskill, NY/Peekskill) with 5:42 remaining in the game, but that as close as Pace would get as Saint Michael's would go on to finish off the game with a seven point victory, 93-86.
The Purple Knights benefited from a hot shooting hand as Saint Michael's converted on 17-of-35 (48.6%) from beyond the arc, including going 11-for-19 from three in the second half. Overall the Purple Knights shot 48.6% (36-for-74) from the field. Pace shot 45.2% from the field, but only converted 25.0% (5-for-20) from three, including going 0-for-10 in the second half. The Setters were solid at the free throw line converting 93.8% (15-for-16), including a perfect 12-for-12 in the second half. Saint Michael's went 4-for-7 (57.1%) from the line for the game. The Purple Knights also held the rebounding edge 43-37.
Williams led the Setters scoring a team-high 21 points on 6-for-12 shooting from the field, including 3-for-5 from three and 6-for-6 from the line. McGhee and Wilson each added 14 points, while Wilson also grabbed 10 rebounds to record the double-double. Callum Jones (Manchester, ENG/St. Thomas Moore Prep) chipped in with 11 points, while Desmond Quincy-Jones (Rye, NY/Rye) grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds to go along with nine points.
Sorrentine led all scorers with a game-high 28 points for the Purple Knights on 9-for-14 shooting from the field, including a blistering 8-for-12 from three and 2-for-2 from the line. Nate Birr chipped in with 14 points on 5-for-9 shooting from the field and 4-for-6 from three. Brian Monahan recorded a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Pace returns to action on Wednesday, November 28th, when the
Setters travel to Rindge, New Hampshire to take on the Ravens of
Franklin Pierce University in a Northeast-10 Conference game.
Tip-Off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.