November 17, 2006
Wolverines fall in OT
WASHINGTON, Pa. – The Grove City College men's basketball team opened the 2006-2007 season Friday night with a 78-75 overtime loss to Allegheny in the first night of the annual West Penn Classic at Washington & Jefferson's Henry Memorial Center.
Grove City freshman Luke Tomaselli (Cresson, Pa./Penn Cambria) sent the game into overtime at 66-all with a three-pointer in the closing seconds of regulation. Grove City (0-1) nearly sent the game into a second overtime but Joe Capotosta's (Wadsworth, Ohio/Wadsworth) three-point attempt glanced off the back of the rim.
Junior guard Ryan Gerber (Baltic, Ohio/Garaway) led Grove City with a game-high 20 points. Gerber shot 7 for 11 from the floor, including 4-of-8 accuracy behind the three-point line. Senior forward Mark Smith (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) came off the bench to post 13 points and five rebounds while junior guard Shawn Carr (New Castle, Pa./Mohawk) added 10 points and nine rebounds.
Capotosta and sophomore guard Ryan Gibson (North Canton, Ohio/Hoover) each added nine points. Gibson had four assists while Capotosta recorded three steals. Senior center Craig Hallman (Ellwood City, Pa./Riverside) pulled down a career-high 13 rebounds, helping the Wolverines own a 46-38 edge on the glass.
The Wolverines jumped out to a 14-5 lead in the first half and led 32-28 at halftime. Grove City pushed the lead to 48-35 midway through the second half before Allegheny (1-0) charged back. Allegheny drained six of 11 three-point attempts in the second half to help ignite the comeback.
In overtime, Allegheny bolted to a 71-66 lead but a steal and layup from Gibson tied the game at 72-72 with 55 seconds left. However, Allegheny guard Mike Sefcik gave Allegheny the lead for good with a three.
Larry Sharp led Allegheny with 17 points while Ryan Hollihan added 13. Sefick finished with a dozen points.
Grove City will face Carnegie Mellon Saturday evening at 6 p.m. at Allegheny in the second night of the West Penn Classic.
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