January 21, 2009
Wolverines hold off Thiel, 75-68
GROVE CITY, Pa. -- Three Grove City players scored in double figures Wednesday night to help lift the Wolverines to a 75-68 home victory over visiting Thiel in Presidents' Athletic Conference men's basketball action at the Grove City College Arena.
Senior guard Ryan Gibson (North Canton, Ohio/Hoover), senior guard Joe McCoy (Newark, Ohio/Newark) and junior center Andy O'Keefe (Perry, Ohio/Perry) all fired in 16 points for Grove City (9-6, 4-2 PAC). McCoy went 4-for-4 on three-point goals while Gibson and O'Keefe combined to shoot 10 of 15 from the field.
As a team, Grove City shot 24 of 43 (56 percent) from the field, including an 8-for-11 effort on three-pointers.
Grove City led 34-27 at halftime and extended the lead to 45-30 with 16:36 left in the game on a three-pointer from senior forward John Scheller (Frisco, Texas/North Canton, Ohio). Thiel countered with a 19-4 run, though, and tied the game on a layup from Cory Chaffee.
However, Grove City reclaimed the lead with eight minutes left on a pair of free throws and a subsequent layup by Gibson. Thiel later pulled to within 60-57 with 2:43 left but Gibson hit a pair of free throws and McCoy followed with a three-pointer from the left wing.
Grove City jumped out to a 10-2 lead early and eventually stretched the lead to 34-21 late in the half. Thiel's Nick Sefcik drained a pair of three-pointers in the final 30 seconds of the half, though, to cut the lead to seven.
O'Keefe added a game-high seven rebounds, along with four assists. McCoy and Scheller also had five rebounds, helping Grove City earn a 27-26 edge on the glass. Grove City turned the ball over 14 times while Thiel had 12 turnovers.
Sean Devinney led Thiel (1-15, 0-6) with 19 points while Sefcik added 17. Chaffee chipped in 15.
Grove City is now tied for first in the PAC at 4-2 with Bethany, Thomas More and Westminster. Grove City will visit Geneva Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.
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