February 22, 2007
Grove City rolls into PAC finals
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. -- The Grove City College men's basketball team will play for the Presidents' Athletic Conference title Saturday night after rolling past top-seeded Westminster Thursday, 86-67, in a PAC Championship Tournament semifinal at Memorial Field House.
Grove City (15-12) will visit No. 3 Washington & Jefferson in the PAC title game Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The Presidents advanced to the conference title with a 78-75 win at Bethany Thursday night.
Grove City shot 58 percent (14 of 24) from the floor in the second half in outscoring the Titans, 50-31, over the final 20 minutes. Four Wolverines scored in double figures, led by senior forward Mark Smith (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) with 20 points. Junior Shawn Carr (New Castle, Pa./Mohawk) fired in five three-pointers as part of an 18-point night. Carr also grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds.
Also for Grove City, sophomore Ryan Gibson (North Canton, Ohio/Hoover) poured in 17 points and junior guard Ryan Gerber (Baltic, Ohio/Garaway) chipped in 10 points. Senior center Craig Hallman (Ellwood City, Pa./Riverside) added nine points and also grabbed 13 rebounds. Grove City owned a 43-28 edge on the glass.
Grove City trailed just once, 37-36, early in the second half. The Wolverines took the lead for good moments later as Smith deposited a lay-up and Gibson drilled a three-pointer. Midway through the second half, a three-point play by Gibson ignited a 7-0 run that stretched Grove City's lead to 64-48.
Grove City led by as many as eight on two different occasions in the first half. Westminster forged a 36-all tie by the half, though, as Greg Rosatelli hit two free throws with one second left in the half. Rosatelli led all scorers with 23 points. Steve Bielich added 18 for Westminster (18-8).
It is Grove City's second win this year at Westminster. Grove City won 101-91 at Westminster Jan. 17.
The Wolverines are in the PAC title game for the first time since defeating Thiel in 2003, 60-59. Grove City lost at W&J Feb. 14, 87-84. Grove City won the first meeting Jan. 24, 74-59.
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