January 14, 2004
Cotherman tip-in gives Grove City double-OT win
GROVE CITY, Pa. -- A putback from sophomore forward Chuck Cotherman (Knox, Pa./Keystone) as time expired at the end of the second overtime lifted the Grove City College men's basketball team to an 87-85 victory over longtime rival Geneva at the Grove City College Arena Wednesday night.
Cotherman grabbed an offensive rebound in the midst of three Geneva players and tipped the ball off the backboard box and into the basket as time expired. A desperation jump shot from junior guard J.D. Collar (Cincinnati, Ohio/Anderson) fell short but Cotherman was able to direct the ball into the hoop.
The Wolverines (6-8) forced the second overtime when senior forward Tanner Prosser (Pittsburgh, Pa./Brentwood) tipped in a missed shot at the end of the first extra period to tie the game at 76-76. Prosser finished with a game-high 23 points and 12 rebounds. Cotherman also pulled in 12 rebounds.
A Collar three with 50 seconds left in the first overtime tied the game at 74 after the Wolverines twice trailed by three in the overtime. One of five Wolverines to score in double-figures, Collar finished with a dozen points. Junior forward Ryan Eller (Erie, Pa./Iroquois) added 21 points while junior guard Mike Lukcic (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) and sophomore swingman Matt Phillips (Bainbridge, Ohio/Kenston) each added 10 points.
Grove City stormed out to a fast start, grabbing a 27-6 lead midway through the first half. Five different players hit a three-pointer during the run, which was capped by a three-pointer from Phillips.
Geneva (9-9) eventually whittled the lead to 41-28 by halftime. The Golden Tornadoes then used a 15-5 run to close to within 46-43 seven minutes into the second half. Grove City could not pull away and the Golden Tornadoes seized the lead with 1:35 left, 64-62, on a three-point play from Terrance Ward.
Eller tied the game with an inside basket at the 1:18 mark and two free throws from freshman guard Bobby Glass (New Castle, Pa./Neshannock) put Grove City up 66-64. Geneva's Stefan Grundberg tied the game at 66 with two free throws and three-point attempts by Lukcic and Ward in the final seconds were errant.
Grove City shot 9-of-18 beyond the three-point line and out-rebounded the Golden Tornadoes, 55-50. Collar, Lukcic, Phillips and Prosser each had three assists.
Chad Mraz led Geneva with 18 points and five assists while Grundberg. added 15 for the Golden Tornadoes. Ward finished with 14 points.
Prosser also moved up four spots in Grove City's all-time scoring list with his 23-point outburst. Prosser now has 1,073 points for his career, good for 15th place.
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-Mark Timko (1991-94) 1,255
6-Fred Schwab (1970-74) 1,215
7-Deron Ryan (1984-88) 1,205
8-Tim Mokma (1987-91) 1,197
9-Bill Fox (1975-79) 1,192
10-Tom Robinson (1957-62) 1,181
11-Mark Smith (1979-83) 1,171
12-Jim Wherley (1993-97) 1,162
13-Bart Niemeyer (1958-62) 1,145
14-Benjamin Davis (1990-94) 1,094
15-TANNER PROSSER (1999-2003)1,073
16-Dave Marovich (1962-65) 1,072
17-Ron Arrington (1962-66) 1,069
18-Mike Donahoe (1975-79) 1,051
19-Dan Von Handorf (1992-96) 1,029
20-Dutch Leonard (1955-59) 1,013
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