Strayhorn Leads Marywood in Season Opening Win
DJ Strayhorn's game-high 29 points helped Marywood open with a 18-point win Monday

Strayhorn Leads Marywood in Season Opening Win

Men's Basketball - 11/16/2009 8:56:41 PM

Box Score

Scranton, PA - Freshman D.J. Strayhorn led all scorers with 29 points and host Marywood University rolled to a 96-78 non-conference win over Penn State Wilkes-Barre to open the 2009-10 men's basketball season Monday evening at Marywood's Insalaco Arena in Scranton.  Strayhorn was one of four Pacers in double-digits at the end of the night while the Lions also place four in double figures.

Down 9-6 after three and a half minutes of play, Marywood (1-0) took control with a 9-0 run over the next three minutes to reclaim a lead they would not relinquish again.  The Pacers kept the visitors at bay for the rest of the first half, going into the lockerroom with a nine point lead, up 47-38.  The opening half saw Marywood out-score the Lions 30-10 in the paint and the Pacers scored 22 points off of turnovers compared to Penn State's two points off miscues.

PSU Wilkes-Barre would not go away quietly though, as the visitors climbed back with a 17-8 run to open the second half and tie the game at 55-55.  From there, however, the hosts reclaimed the lead on an Antre Cole (Tobyhanna, PA) jumper at the 13:00 mark and never looked back, using a 12-0 run to break the game open.

Strayhorn (Henryville, PA) went 11-for-16 from the floor including 3-of-5 from behind the arc.  The freshman also sank four of six free throw attempts and dished out three assists in 29 minutes of action.  Cole netted 19 points on five of nine shooting, while Jacques Robinson (Athens, GA) and Matt Lepri (Tannersville, PA) had 13 and 10, respectively.  In all, Marywood forced 31 turnovers and only committed eight themselves.

Frank Peters led the Lions with a 19-point night, while Matthew Clemons (15 points), John Sanderson (13 points) and Jared James (10 points) all reached double figures for Penn State (0-1).  Peters was the only player to record a double-double on the night after grabbing 11 boards, eight of which came on the defensive end. 

Marywood returns to action Friday at the prestigious Laurel Line Tournament hosted by Misericordia University in Dallas, PA.  The defending champion Pacers will take on PSU-Hazleton in opening round action at 6:00 pm.
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