January 20, 2010
Wolverines down Westminster
GROVE CITY, Pa. -- The Grove City College men's basketball team improved to 4-2 in the Presidents' Athletic Conference and 10-7 overall Wednesday night by rolling past visiting Westminster (5-12, 2-4) 64-53 in conference action at the Grove City College Arena.
The Wolverines held Westminster to just one field goal over the final 8:30 of the game as Grove City closed the game on a 19-6 run.
Senior center Andy O'Keefe (Perry, Ohio/Perry) paced Grove City with 21 points and eight rebounds while senior guard Joe McCoy (Newark, Ohio/Newark) fired in 16 points, including four three-point goals. Sophomore guard Brett Matson (Wexford, Pa./Pine-Richland) added 15 points and also distributed four assists.
Grove City tied the game at 47 with 7:21 left on an O'Keefe basket. After O'Keefe put Grove City ahead to stay with a pair of free throws, sophomore forward Drew Vandermeer (Clarion, Pa./Clarion) swished a 15-foot jumper.
Later in the run, Matson and McCoy hit consecutive three-pointers to give the Wolverines a 59-52 lead with two minutes left.
Grove City led 33-32 at halftime but Westminster eventually took a 41-38 lead on three-point goals from Steve Bielich, Ryne Murray and Steve Cress. Murray led all scorers with 26 points. He also had a game-high nine rebounds. Grove City out-rebounded the Titans 32-31, however. Grove City also forced 21 turnovers while committing just 13.
The Wolverines limited Westminster to a 17-for-44 (39 percent) shooting effort from the floor. Westminster shot 11 for 25 on three-point attempts while Grove City made six of 14 shots from three-point territory. Overall, Grove City shot 18 of 47 (38 percent) from the field. The Wolverines went 22 for 29 (76 percent) at the foul line whereas Westminster made eight of 13 (62 percent) free throws.
Grove City has held each of its last four home opponents to 54 points or less. The Wolverines are holding opponents to a PAC-low 64.9 points per game this year. That is the program's lowest points allowed average since the 1998-99 team held opponents to 60 points per game.
Grove City visits PAC leader Thomas More (5-1 PAC) Saturday at 3 p.m.
Go back to Wolverine Basketball Home Page