Box Score
GLASSBORO, NJ – The Gwynedd-Mercy College men’s basketball team had an 86-82 victory over Rowan University in the championship game of the Heritage’s Dairy Stores Classic on Saturday afternoon.
Gwynedd-Mercy improves to 6-2, while Rowan has a 4-6 record. Earlier on Saturday in the consolation game, Berkeley College defeated Penn State Brandywine, 64-62. In the first round on Friday night, Gwynedd-Mercy topped Berkeley, 86-57 and Rowan had an 88-69 win over Penn State Brandywine.
The All-Tournament Team including Penn State Brandywine guard Rasheed Wilkins, Berkeley forward Justin Savage, Rowan guards Sean Hughes (sr. Pt. Pleasant, NJ/Pt. Pleasant Boro) and Kendall White (so. Lumberton, NJ/Rancocas Valley Reg.) and Gwynedd-Mercy guard Dan Delconte (jr. Blue Bell, PA/Wissahickon). Griffins’ guard Jon Crabtree (sr. Phoenixville, PA/Phoenixville) was selected the Most Valuable Player.
Forward Frank Champion (so. Northfield, NJ/Mainland Reg.) totaled 21 points and 16 boards for Gwynedd-Mercy. Delconte added 21 points and six assists. Guard Brandyn Wims (fr. Philadelphia, PA/Cardinal Dougherty) and Crabtree posted 12 points apiece. Forward Jon Hogga (sr. Phoenixville, PA/Phoenixville) chipped in with nine points.
For Rowan, Hughes compiled 19 points, five rebounds and five assists. Center Chris Gebhart (fr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill W.) had 14 points. Forward Steve Secula (jr. Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Reg.), guard Rich McNamara (fr. Southampton, NJ/Seneca) and White all tallied 11 points. White dished a game-high seven assists.
The Profs were ahead, 44-38 at halftime. Hughes’ three-pointer at 18:42 in the second period increased the lead to seven (49-42). Secula had a jumper at 14:33 to give Rowan a 53-45 advantage. The Griffins went on a 7-0 run to pull within one (53-52 ) at 13:01. Champion scored four points, Crabtree added two and Delconte had one. After a basket by White (12:32), Crabtree recorded back-to-back layups at 12:22 and 11:26 to put Gwynedd-Mercy up by one (56-55). Delconte’s layup (11:01) increased the lead to three (58-55).
Hughes nailed a three to tie the game at 58 (10:37). Rowan was up, 65-64 following a layup by Hughes at 8:32. The Griffins scored the next seven points to go ahead by six (71-65) with 7:36 on the clock. Hogga scored all seven points.
The Profs fought back and cut the deficit to one (79-78) with 2:32 remaining on a three-pointer by guard Laud Anderson (sr. North Brunswick, NJ/North Brunswick Twp.). Hogga (1:40) and Delconte (:41) both sunk two free throws to push the lead to five (83-78). Gebhart had a layup (:31) and Crabtree followed with a foul shot (:27). Secula’s layup (:13) brought Rowan within two (84-82). Crabtree sealed the game with two free throws with nine seconds left. Champion and Crabtree both scored 12 points in the second period.
In the first half, the score was tied seven times with the last one (35-35) coming at 3:14. The Profs closed out the half with a 9-3 surge. McNamara led the way with four points, White made a three-pointer and guard Jason Rosenberg (fr. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Valley) added a layup. McNamara, Hughes and Delconte all compiled 11 points in the period.
Rowan hosts Penn State Abington on Tuesday, December 21 at 8 p.m.
