February 9, 2013
Grove City rallies to stun Geneva in OT, gives Lamie No. 200
GROVE CITY, Pa. -- The Grove City College men's basketball completed a season sweep of Presidents' Athletic Conference archrival Geneva Saturday afternoon by rallying for an 80-75 overtime win over the visiting Golden Tornadoes before a near-capacity Hall of Fame Day crowd at the Grove City College Arena. The win is the 200th for Grove City head coach Steve Lamie.
Grove City trailed 69-66 in the closing moments of regulation but sophomore forward Brian Giesler (Harrisville, Pa./Slippery Rock) drilled a three-point goal with 10 seconds left, tying the game. On Geneva's final possession of regulation, Giesler then took a charge from Geneva guard D.J. Damazo with two seconds left, ultimately sending the game to overtime.
Geneva (2-20, 2-12) took a 72-70 lead in the extra period but sophomore guard Mitch Marmelstein (San Juan Capistrano, Calif./St. Margaret's) tied the game at the 2:30 mark with a layup.
Grove City took the lead for good with 1:04 left on a putback from sophomore guard Josh Patterson (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette). In the final 30 seconds, Marmelstein, Giesler and sophomore guard Christian Durbin (Harmony, Pa./Seneca Valley) all went 2 for 2 at the foul line to sew up the victory.
Giesler and Marmelstein each led the Wolverines with 17 points while sophomore guard J.T. Schwartz (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler) added 14 points.
Schwartz added seven assists for the Wolverines, who had just six turnovers in 45 minutes of action. He also had three steals.
Grove City shot 45 percent (30 of 67) from the field while Geneva shot 42 percent (22 of 53). Geneva went 21 for 27 (78 percent) at the foul line but just 2 for 6 in overtime. The Wolverines converted 12 of 14 free throws. Geneva also had 25 turnovers.
Geneva owned a 45-28 edge in rebounds. Giesler and freshman guard Isaiah Reeves (Pittsburgh, Pa./Perry) both had five rebounds for Grove City.
Matt Lorello led Geneva with 16 points and Keynon Jackson had 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Prior to the game, Grove City honored senior forwards Steve Battaglia (Olmsted Falls, Ohio/Olmsted Falls) and Nate Rambacher (Newmanstown, Pa./Eastern Lebanon) as part of Senior Day festivities.
Grove City will conclude the home portion of the 2012-13 schedule Wednesday night against conference rival Westminster at 8 p.m.
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