November 20, 2010
Grove City rolls past Muskingum
ERIE, Pa. -- Senior forward Luke Tomaselli (Cresson, Pa./Penn Cambria) and junior guard Brett Matson (Wexford, Pa./Pine-Richland) both fired in 19 points Saturday afternoon to help lead the Grove City College men's basketball team to a 64-52 victory over Muskingum in the consolation game of the Penn State Behrend Tip-Off Tournament at the Junker Centre.
Sophomore forward Jeff Newell (Boone, N.C./Watauga) added 11 points for the Wolverines, who shot 54 percent (25 of 46) from the field in the win.
Grove City took command of the game in the second half by going on a 12-1 run midway through the period. Muskingum (0-2) tied the game at 44 with 11 minutes left but Newell and Matson recorded consecutive baskets to put Grove City ahead to stay.
Tomaselli then scored eight straight points for the Wolverines. He capped the run with a three-pointer, giving Grove City a 56-45 lead with 5:46 left. The lead swelled to 15, 62-47, with 3:45 left in the game on a Tomaselli jumper.
Grove City trailed 27-26 late in the first half but closed the period with an 8-3 spurt. Matson, Newell and Tomaselli all scored during that spurt, giving Grove City a 34-30 halftime lead. The first half featured seven ties.
Defensively, Grove City limited Muskingum to just 35 percent (19 of 54) shooting from the field. The Wolverines owned a 40-20 edge on the glass. Junior guard Cody Fleeger (Butler, Pa./Butler) grabbed a game-high nine rebounds and Tomaselli had six rebounds. Matson had five steals.
Tomaselli earned All-Tournament recognition. He scored 21 points Friday night in the semifinals against Ithaca. Tomaselli is averaging 21.3 points per game this season.
Grove City (1-2) hosts Penn State Beaver Tuesday night in the 2010-11 home opener at 8 p.m.
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