November 21, 2008
Comeback falls short
CARLISLE, Pa. -- The Grove City College men's basketball team opened the 2008-09 season Friday night with a 69-65 setback against host Dickinson in the semifinals of the Pizza Hut Tip-Off Tournament. Grove City (0-1) trailed by as many as 14 in the second half but rallied to within three points on three separate occasions. However, the Wolverines could not complete the comeback.
Grove City trailed 33-24 at halftime after producing just six first-half field goals. The Wolverines shot 24 percent (6 of 25) from the field in the first half.
Dickinson extended its lead to 14, 48-34, with 13 minutes left in the game. The Wolverines eventually slashed the lead to 55-52 on a jumper from freshman Drew Vandermeer (Clarion, Pa./Clarion) with 5:13 left. Dickinson held off the Wolverines down the stretch, though.
Junior center Andy O'Keefe (Perry, Ohio/Perry) led Grove City with 12 points while senior guard Joe McCoy (Newark, Ohio/Newark) fired in 11, including three three-point goals. Freshman guard Brett Matson (Wexford, Pa./Pine-Richland) added 10 points in his collegiate debut. Senior guard Ryan Gibson (North Canton, Ohio/Hoover) added eight points and a team-high eight rebounds.
Grove City finished the game 23 of 63 (37 percent) from the field while Dickinson shot 42 percent (19 of 45). Dickinson out-rebounded Grove City 38-35. Dickinson committed 19 turnovers while Grove City had just 14 turnovers.
Kizmahr Grell led the Red Devils with 17 points.
Grove City will play Salisbury in the consolation game Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
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