GCC nearly reverses 14-point deficit in last five minutes
YORK, PA, January 4, 2002--A furious rally in the final five minutes ended a bucket short as the Grove City Wolverines dropped a 65-63 decision to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in the first round of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic at York College in York, Pa.
The Wolverines (8-4), who led 32-30 at halftime, trailed 64-50 with 5:50 left in regulation before rolling off the final six field goals of the game, while holding Kings Point to a single free throw the rest of the way.
Sophomore Tanner Prosser's (Pittsburgh, PA/Brentwood) lay-up at the 1:37 mark trimmed the deficit to five, 65-60. Sophomore Jim Fetzner (Erie, PA/Cathedral Prep) then followed with his third 3-pointer of the game to cut it to two with 59 seconds left, but it would be the last points scored by either team.
The Mariners (8-1) went 1-for-5 from the free-throw line in the final 2:30.
Wolverine senior Pat Roberts (Home, PA/Marion Center) fired in a team-high 16 points on 8-for-12 shooting and grabbed six rebounds. Freshman Nate Maurer (Mount Lebanon, PA/The Linsly School) chipped in with 12 points off the bench, including a lay-up in the late 13-1 run, and added six boards. Fetzner closed with 11 points, while sophomore Phil Bushre (Swartz Creek, MI/Swartz Creek) pulled down a team-best seven rebounds.
Grove City outshot Kings Point, 46% to 43%, but was outrebounded for the first time this season, 37-34.
The Wolverines will play conference rival Washington & Jefferson in Saturday's consolation game at 2:00 p.m.
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