Letthand Commands 19-Point Comeback for First Cross County Win
Shane Letthand scored the final five points for the Pacers to lead a 19-point comeback over Wilkes

Letthand Commands 19-Point Comeback for First Cross County Win

Men's Basketball - 1/3/2014 6:22:00 PM

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Scranton, PA - Shane Letthand hit a game-winning 20-foot jumper with 6.9 seconds remaining to lead Marywood University to its first ever Cross County Challenge victory. The Pacers ousted Wilkes University 61-60 Friday at the University of Scranton's Long Center. The win ends a five-game slide against the Colonels (5-5), and it is the first over Wilkes since the 2005-06 season.

Trailing 60-59, Shane Kellaher dished a pass to Letthand near the top of the key. He released a shot just in front of the 3-point line to give the Pacers (4-5) its first lead since the opening minute. Letthand stole a Wilkes pass at the other end of the court to solidify the Pacers' victory. Down four points with over a minute left, Letthand drained a 3-pointer from 25 feet out to put the Pacers within a possession.

Marywood trailed by as many as 19 points in the first half and were at a 15-point disadvantage at halftime. Over a five minute span beginning at the 11:21 mark in the second half, the Pacers enjoyed an 11-1 run to cut its deficit to two points. Marywood kept the game within two possessions for the final 6:20. Wilkes' Steve Stravinski hit a 3-pointer to go ahead four points at 1:45 before Letthand responded with his first from behind the arc.

Kellaher led the Pacers with 16 points. Kendall Harris overcame first-half troubles with 14 points, thanks to eight free throws on 13 trips to the line. Letthand finished with four steals and 11 points.

DJ Davis was Marywood's top rebounder with eight. He added eight points and four blocks.

Stravinski paced the Colonels with 22 points. Nic Wilkins had 13 in a losing effort.

Wilkes jumped out on the Pacers early in the first half. A 14-2 run by the Colonels gave them a 34-13 lead at the 3:47 mark. Marywood reacted with seven straight points over a three-minute stretch.

Bob Simmons racked up a victory over his alma mater in his first meeting against the Colonels as Marywood's head coach.

Marywood won despite being outrebounded by a 44-26 margin. Marywood shot 36.2 percent from the field to the Colonels' 40.7 percent. Stymied by Letthand's pervasive defense, Wilkes committed 22 turnovers. In comparison, the Pacers allowed a season-low nine turnovers.

Marywood will look for a sweep against the Luzerne County teams Saturday at 2:00 pm in the Long Center. Wilkes will take on Scranton following the Pacers-Monarchs contest. The Cross-County Challenge is in its third year of competition.

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