Lepri's 20 Clinch Post-Season Berth for Pacers
Matt Lepri's game-high 20 points led Marywood to their fourth-ever post-season tournament berth

Lepri's 20 Clinch Post-Season Berth for Pacers

Men's Basketball - 2/17/2011 10:09:21 PM

Box Score

Scranton, PA - Marywood University's Matt Lepri scored a game-high 20 points, 12 of which came late in the second half, and the host Pacers clinched a Colonial States Athletic Conference playoff berth with a 74-61 win over visiting Centenary College Thursday night at the Insalaco Arena. The Pacers, who also got double-digit performances from Lenny Martin, Tyrek Coleman and Jacques Robinson, clinched the #5 seed and will face #4 seed Neumann University Saturday in Aston.

Marywood built a five-point halftime lead thanks to hot-shooting in the first half as the Pacers connected on over 53% of their shots in the opening half. Marywood, who was also 6-11 from behind the arc in the first half, including a 3-of-4 effort from Robinson, who led Marywood with 9 points at the break.

Down 40-35 to start the second half, the Cyclones opened the frame on a 6-0 run to take a 41-40 lead. Despite answering back with a quick bucket, Marywood then fell behind as the visitors used a 5-0 run to take a 50-44 lead. That six-point Centenary lead would be matched again with 7:32 remaining after a Will Atkinson three put the Cyclones up 57-51.

From there, Lepri and the Pacers started to take control as the hosts went on a 6-0 run to tie the game at 57-57. Marywood would then go up two on a pair of free-throws by John Foreman with 4:49 left, but Centenary answered with a Larry Lenahan layup to produce the game's fourth tie.

Lepri then broke the 59-59 deadlock with a three, and that basket keyed an decisive 9-0 run that put the Pacers up for good and the game out of reach. Marywood was once again sharp from the charity stripe as the Pacers knocked down 14 of 18 on the night, including 12 of 15 in the second half.

Lepri's game-high 20 came on 8 of 10 shooting from the floor. The Tannersville native was also 2 of 2 from long-range. Martin and Coleman each had 12 while Robinson had 11.

Centenary, who fell to 9-16 and 7-11 in the CSAC, was led by Lenahan's 15 points and game-high 8 rebounds. Atkinson added 12 for the Cyclones, whose season came to a close thanks to a Immaculata 80-72 win over Philadelphia Biblical University.

Game-time between the Pacers and Knights has not been set for Saturday. Neuamnn took both regular season meetings from Marywood.  Keystone College will be the three-seed and will host six-seed Immaculata Saturday.  Top-seed Cabrini College and second seed Gwynedd-Mercy College each have byes and will host semifinal games.
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