Grove City tops Muskies, off to best start in 12 years
GROVE CITY, PA, December 13, 2000--Senior Shane Meling (Slippery Rock, PA/Slippery Rock) pumped in a game-high 18 points on 7-for-8 shooting, including 4-for-4 from three-point range, as the Wolverines improved to 6-2 with a 63-59 win over visiting Muskingum, who fell to 3-4.
Trailing 40-35 at 12:34 of the second half, Grove City rallied with a 19-4 run to lead 54-44 with 5:34 remaining. Moments later, the Muskies countered with a 13-5 run of their own, trimming the Wolverine lead to two, 61-59, with one second left. Junior Chris Kreider (Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin) iced the victory with a pair of free throws, giving him 14 points. Junior Pat Roberts (Home, PA/Marion Center) also tallied 14 points on 5-for-6 shooting. Freshman Phil Bushre (Swartz Creek, MI/Swartz Creek) tossed in 11 points, stepping in for Roberts, who sat out 10 minutes in the second half with four fouls.
The Wolverines outrebounded the Muskies, 35-27, with Meling grabbing a team-high seven boards. Freshman Jim Fetzner (Erie, PA/Cathedral Prep) pulled down six rebounds, while Roberts, Bushre and sophomore Andy Vlajkovich (Canfield, OH/Canfield) added five caroms each.
Grove City shot 54.8% from the floor, while holding Muskingum to 36.8% shooting.
The Muskies, led by Mike Moler's 16 points, attempted 39 three-pointers, making 14.
Muskingum grabbed its first lead of the game with three minutes left in the first half and led 32-29 at intermission.
Grove City is off to its best start since the 1988-89 season, which marked the school's last appearance in the NCAA Division III playoffs. The Wolverines, led by former head coach John Barr, finished the year 20-6, falling in the first round to Washington (MD), 82-69.
Snowy roads delayed Muskingum's arrival,
pushing the tip-off from 7:00 p.m to 8:10 p.m.
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