PACE FALLS TO
SAINT MICHAEL'S, 54-53, AS WOODS GAME-WINNER COMES UP JUST
SHORT
SETTERS QUALIFY FOR NE-10 TOURNAMENT DESPITE LOSS
COLCHESTER, VT- The Pace University men's basketball team loses
their final game in the regular season to the Purple Knight of
Saint Michael's College, 54-53, on Monday night in front of 573
people in the Ross Sports Center. Even with the loss the Setters
have the tie-breaker over Saint Michael's, and will be the #12 seed
in the NE-10 Tournament.
With the loss Pace will fall to 9-18 on the season, and 7-15 in the NE-10. The win will end Saint Michael's season with a final record of 10-15 and 7-15 in conference play.
The Setters got off to a solid start in front of a loud crowd at the Ross Sports Center. After a Wesley Dunning (Laurel, MD/Gonzaga) layup Pace took a three point lead at 12-9, with 11:03 left in the first half. The two teams played each other very close the rest of the first half as no team could get a lead bigger than four. The first half was a defensive battle that featured six ties, and six lead changes. Pace led at the half 29-28. The Setters shot 32 percent from the field in the first half, and the Purple Knights shot 41 percent. Pace only had two turnovers in the first half, but was outrebounded by nine in the half.
Saint Michael's went on a 13-8 run to start the second half to make the score 41-37 with 10:27 left in the game. Pace then countered with a 13-5 run of their own to give Pace a four point lead at 50-46, with 3:01 left in the game. Pace had a two point lead with 14 seconds left, and Dunning was on the line. Dunning missed his first free-throw, and Saint Michael's came down on their next possession to hit a three-pointer with five seconds left to go up by one. Ryan Woods (Staten Island, NY/Saint Peters) got a good look from three as time expired but it rolled off the rim, and Pace went on to lose by one.
Pace was led by Laurence McGhee (Linden, NJ/Linden) who was the only Setters in double figures as he finished with 11 points, four rebounds, and four assists.
Pace will be back in action in the NE-10 Tournament that will be starting up on Saturday, February 28. The time and team who the Setters will be playing has not been determined yet.
