January 5, 2009
Wolverines improve to 7-3
HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Senior guard Joe McCoy (Newark, Ohio/Newark) fired in 20 points while senior guard Ryan Gibson (North Canton, Ohio/Hoover) and junior center Andy O'Keefe (Perry, Ohio/Perry) both added 16 points each Monday night to help lift the Grove City College men's basketball team to an 81-72 victory over host Juniata in non-conference action at Memorial Gymnasium.
Grove City (7-3) broke the game open with a 15-2 run in the second half after Juniata (2-10) forged a 50-50 tie with 13:40 left. Junior forward Ryan King (Grove City, Pa./Grove City) ignited the run with a layup while freshmen Cody Fleeger (Butler, Pa./Butler) and Drew Vandermeer (Clarion, Pa./Clarion) both hit three-pointers. O'Keefe capped the run by hitting a pair of free throws with 7:39 left.
Fleeger and Gibson both sank three-pointers in the final three minutes of the first half to help Grove City claim a 41-35 halftime lead. Grove City shot 8 for 16 from behind the three-point line in the game. Overall, the Wolverines shot 51 percent (24 of 47) from the field. Grove City also made 25 of 29 free throws, led by McCoy's 13-for-14 marksmanship.
Gibson handed out six assists and also grabbed a game-high six rebounds. McCoy recorded four steals while O'Keefe and senior forward John Scheller (Frisco, Texas/Hoover, Ohio) both had a pair of thefts. Grove City out-rebounded Juniata, 33-32.
Dave Thompson led Juniata with 23 points while Jeff Berkey had 17 points. Juniata shot 27 for 63 (43 percent) from the field. The game featured 12 ties. The 81 points are a season high for Grove City in a regulation game. Grove City scored 89 in an 89-81 overtime win at Westminster December 6.
The game featured a 20-minute delay in the first half due to a clock malfunction.
Grove City returns to Presidents' Athletic Conference play Wednesday night at Thomas More. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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