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DECEMBER 10, 2016

KING'S MEN FALL TO TRINITY ON MONARCH CLASSIC CONSOLATION GAME, SUSQUEHANNA DOWNS GWYNEDD MERCY FOR TITLE

WILKES-BARRE — The Trinity College men's basketball team overcame a three-point deficit with 13:08 remaining by outscoring King's College 24-14 the rest of the way as the Bantams posted a 59-52 victory in the consolation game of the First National Community Bank/Monarch Classic Saturday in Scandlon Gym. In the championship game, 23rd ranked Susquehanna posted a come-from-behind 80-74 win over Gwynedd-Mercy University.

With the win, Trinity, a 2016 NCAA Division III national tournament qualifier, improved to 5-4 while King's slipped to 4-4.

With the game tied 35-35, King's took the lead on a three-pointer by John Fazzini with 13:08 to play. Trinity answered with a short jumper by Langdon Neal sparking a 6-0 spurt that put the Bantams on top 41-38, a lead they would not surrender.

King's closed to within 41-40 on an inside bucket by Andrew Hudak, but Trinity countered with a three-pointer by Kyle Padmore to ignite a 16-5 run, building a 57-45 advantage after a pair of free throws by Neal with 1:42 to play.  King's would come no closer than seven points the rest of the way.

The Monarchs were paced by Connor Callejas with 13 points while all-tournament selection Dan Rutecki added 12 points.  Derek Wilkins tallied seven points off the bench while Hudak also posted seven points.

All-tournament pick Landon Neal led Trinity with 14 points while Ed Ogundenko scored six points with three rebounds and connected on his 1,000th career point on a layup just 0:50 into the game.


CHAMPIONSHIP GAME:  SUSQUEHANNA RALLIES PAST GWYNEDD MERCY 80-74

WILKES-BARRE — Susquehanna University rallied from an 11-point first-half deficit to post a 80-74 victory over Gwynedd Mercy University in the championship game of the FNCB/Monarch Classic Saturday at King's College.

With the win, the 23rd ranked River Hawks improved to 7-1 while Gwynedd-Mercy slipped to 5-2. Both squads were 2016 NCAA Division III national tournament qualifiers.

Gwynedd came out of the gates and built a 21-10 lead with 12:05 left in the first half after a traditional three-point play from Arron Goodman. But Susquehanna whittled away and cut the score to 30-28 with 3:33 remaining in the opening stanza after a pair of foul shots from Steven Weidlich.

The Griffins used a 8-0 spurt to increase the lead to 38-28 with 1:40 on the clock after a three-pointer by Rip Engel. The Crusaders countered with a 5-0 spurt to cut the score to 38-33 at the break.

In the second half Susquehanna came out of the locker room and used a inside baskets from Tyler Hoagland, Jason Dietrich, and Ryan Traub to take a 39-39 lead.  Gwynedd responded to take a 52-47 with 13:10 left after back-to-back buckets by Goodman. The game remained a one-possession contest until Susquehanna used a jumper from Weidlich and a pair if free throws from Dalton Reichard to build a 66-61 lead with 6:10 on the clock. The lead would later grow to 75-68 on an inside basket by Tarub at the 2:42 mark.

Gwynedd would close to 75-73 with 1:46 remaining on a three-pointer by Matt Sommers but the Griffins would draw no closer.

Traub, who was named tournament most valuable player, led Susquehanna with 18 points, six rebounds, and two blocks while Weidlich added 18 points and three assists. Jeff Dzierzawiec had 11 points while Dalton Reichard contributed 10. Hoagland earned all-tournament honors after posting five points and six assists in the final game.

Gwynedd was paced by Goodman, who earned all-tournament honors with 21 points and 10 rebounds.  Sommers followed with 15 points, three rebounds, and three assists while Engel added 14 points, four rebounds, and four assists.  Courtney Cubbage, another all-tournament choice, chipped in with 11 points and five rebounds.


All-Tournament Team
MVP- Susquehanna- Ryan Traub
Susquehanna- Tyler Hoaglan
Gwynedd Mercy- Arron Goodman
Gwynedd Mercy- Courtney Cubbage
King's- Dan Rutecki
Trinity- Langdon Neal