Box Score March 5, 2003
Turnovers costly to Grove City in ECAC quarterfinals
GROVE CITY, Pa. -- Host Grove City committed 21 turnovers Wednesday night as Pennsylvania Athletic Conference runner-up Neumann pulled out a 75-61 victory over the Wolverines (18-9) in the quarterfinals of the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Southern Championships at the Grove City College Arena.
Neumann guard Randy Maultsby fired in a game-high 31 points, including 5-of-5 accuracy in three-point territory, to spark the Knights' effort.
Grove City, the Presidents' Athletic Conference champion, jumped out to a 13-8 lead seven minutes into the game on a driving basket from senior center Jeb Schreiber (Enon, Ohio/Oil City, Pa.). But behind Maultsby's 20 first-half points, Neumann charged back. The 6-foot sophomore scored the Knights' final five points of the half, allowing Neumann to hold a 31-27 halftime lead.
Neumann then grabbed a 36-28 lead early in the second half before the Wolverines countered with a 12-3 run. Sophomore forward Nate Maurer (Pittsburgh, Pa./Linsly School) buried a three from the corner while senior guard Andy Vlajkovich (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) tied the game with a three. A two-handed dunk from junior forward Tanner Prosser (Pittsburgh, Pa./Brentwood) put Grove city on top 40-39.
However, Neumann rebounded with a 21-5 spurt to take command of the game. Solomon Harris, who came off the bench to fire in 19 points, scored seven straight points to start the run. Neumann also sank 19 of 23 (83 percent) free throws in the second half to keep Grove City at bay.
Maurer and Phil Bushre (Swartz Creek, Mich./Swartz Creek) both grabbed 10 rebounds but the Wolverines were out-rebounded 40-32. Harris had nine boards for the Knights.
Schreiber, Vlajkovich and Geoff Gehring (Madison, Ohio/Madison) played their final games for Grove City Wednesday night.
Maurer finished his sophomore season with 566 points, the fourth-highest single-season total in Wolverine history.
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