January 7, 2015

Wolverines top Westminster in OT

GROVE CITY, Pa. -- Senior forward Brian Giesler (Harrisville, Pa./Slippery Rock) buried a three-pointer as time expired in overtime Wednesday night, giving the Grove City College men's basketball team a 72-69 home victory over Presidents' Athletic Conference archrival Westminster in the Grove City College Arena.

Westminster had tied the game at 69-69 with 7.7 seconds left in overtime when Brandon Domenick hit a game-tying three-point goal. Following a Westminster timeout, Grove City senior guard J.T. Schwartz (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler) worked through traffic and found an open Giesler on the right wing, setting up the game-winner.

Giesler hit five three-pointers in the game and finished with 15 points. Schwartz posted a game-high 19 points, along with five assists and four steals. Senior guard Mitch Marmelstein (San Juan Capistrano, Calif./St. Margaret's) added 18 points as the Wolverines' three-man senior class combined for 52 points.

Westminster led 41-34 with 14 minutes left in the second half but the Wolverines surged ahead with a 14-0 run that featured three consecutive Giesler three-pointers. Westminster (3-9, 0-3 PAC) battled back and took a 60-58 lead with one minute left on Cameron Poszgai's three-pointer.

Grove City tied the game with 36.6 seconds left when sophomore forward Tyler McGrath (Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts) converted a pair of free throws.

Junior swingman Caleb Knudsen (Saylorsville, Pa./Pius X) added eight points and six assists for Grove City. Marmelstein pulled in a team-high eight rebounds. Grove City shot 25 of 64 (39 percent) for the game while Westminster went 24 for 55 (44 percent). The Wolverines (6-6, 2-2 PAC) forced 21 turnovers, however, and committed only 10 turnovers.

Poszgai led Westminster with 19 points. Westminster owned a 44-34 advantage in rebounds. Grove City led 31-29 at halftime. It is Grove City's first overtime victory since an 80-75 win over visiting Geneva February 9, 2013 on Hall of Fame Day at the College.

Grove City will visit conference foe Saint Vincent Saturday at 6 p.m.

Box Score

GROVE CITY'S 1,000-POINT CLUB

1-Jeff Claypool (1965-69)            2,234
2-Bob Crow (1979-83)                 1,450
3-Joe Buckley (1985-89)              1,413
4-John Cochran (1966-70)             1,352
5-Tanner Prosser (1999-2003)         1,263
6-Mark Timko (1991-94)               1,255
7-Fred Schwab (1970-74)              1,215
8-Deron Ryan (1984-88)               1,205
9-Tim Mokma (1987-91)                1,197
10-Bill Fox (1975-79)                1,192
11-Tom Robinson (1957-62)            1,181
12-MITCH MARMELSTEIN (2011-Pres.)    1,171
12-Mark Smith (1979-83)              1,171
14-Andy O'Keefe (2006-10)            1,164
16-Jim Wherley (1993-97)             1,162
16-Bart Niemeyer (1958-62)           1,145
17-Shawn Carr (2004-08)              1,121
18-Brett Matson (2008-12)            1,108
19-Benjamin Davis (1990-94)          1,094
20-Ryan Gibson (2005-09)             1,079
21-Dave Marovich (1962-65)           1,072
22-Ron Arrington (1962-66)           1,069
23-Ryan Eller (2001-05)              1,068
24-Mike Donahoe (1975-79)            1,051
25-Dan Von Handorf (1992-96)         1,029
26-Dutch Leonard (1955-59)           1,013