November 30, 2007
Wolverines stun Geneva, 75-74
BEAVER FALLS, Pa. -- Junior guard Ryan Gibson (North Canton, Ohio/Hoover) drained a pair of free throws with 0.5 seconds left Friday night, vaulting Grove City to a 75-74 victory over host Geneva in a Presidents' Athletic Conference men's basketball game at Metheny Field House. It is Grove City's fourth straight win overall and second one-point victory in a three-day span.
Grove City led 73-71 in the closing seconds but Geneva's Bryan Hill hit an apparent game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer. However, after a conference, the officials ordered 0.5 seconds placed back on the clock. On the subsequent play, Geneva's Rob Whitt crashed into Gibson on the baseline while guarding the inbounds pass.
Grove City owned a 70-57 lead with 4:46 left in the game but Geneva held the Wolverines to no field goals over the remainder of the game. Geneva forced five Grove City turnovers down the stretch, which aided the Tornadoes' 17-3 run.
Senior guard Joe Capotosta (Wadsworth, Ohio/Wadsworth) came off the bench to lead Grove City with a season-high 14 points. Senior guard Shawn Carr (New Castle, Pa./Mohawk) added 12 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Ten Wolverines played in the game and all scored at least three points each. Grove City owned a 31-9 edge in bench points.
The Wolverines (4-1) shot 26 of 52 (50 percent) from the floor, including a 9-for-17 (53 percent) effort behind the three-point line. Geneva, meanwhile, shot 37 percent (24 of 64) from the field.
Geneva led by as many as six, 17-11, in the first half. However, the Wolverines rallied to take a 40-34 lead by halftime.
Greg McDivitt led Geneva (3-2) with 33 points and 14 rebounds. Hill added 16 points.
Grove City now leads the all-time series with Geneva, 81-69. The teams will play in Grove City Jan. 26 at 3 p.m. Geneva is a provisional member of NCAA Division III, thus, games against the Golden Tornadoes do not count in the conference standings. Geneva is Grove City's most frequently-played opponent.
Wednesday night, Grove City rallied from a 21-point deficit in the final 12 minutes to defeat Juniata, 64-63. Sophomore guard Luke Tomaselli (Cresson, Pa./Penn Cambria) sank a free throw with 0.4 seconds left to give the Wolverines the victory that night.
Grove City hosts archrival Westminster Wednesday night at 8 p.m. in PAC play.
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