Marywood Ousts King's, Win Share of Cross County Title
Ryan Corrigan had a game-high 20 points to lead Marywood to their 1st ever win over King's Saturday

Marywood Ousts King's, Win Share of Cross County Title

Men's Basketball - 1/4/2014 2:36:00 PM

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Scranton, PA – Marywood University used a big first half effort to build a 12-point lead at the break and held off a strong King's College team as the Pacers won a share of the 2014 Cross County Challenge title with a 77-68 win over the Monarchs Saturday afternoon at the University of Scranton's John Long Center. Marywood (5-5) got its first win in 11 tries versus the Monarchs (5-6). Shane Kellaher was named the tournament's Co-MVP, and Kendall Harris was also named to the All-Tournament Team.

Marywood jumped out to a 6-0 lead and eventually built a 16-point lead (25-9) on a Ryan Corrigan three before King's called its second timeout in an attempt to cool off the Pacers. Marywood would maintain a double-digit lead the remainder of the half and go into the locker room with a 39-27 lead, thanks to hot shooting and another strong defensive effort.

The Pacers shot 59 percent from the floor in the opening half while limiting the Monarchs to 34 percent shooting from the floor and just a 1-of-8 effort (13 percent) from 3-point range. Marywood hit five of its eight attempts from long range in the opening stanza. Kellaher had 11 first half points, while Corrigan added nine. DJ Davis had seven of Marywood's 20 first half rebounds.

King's would cut the Marywood lead into the single digits early in the second half, using a 8-5 run to make it a 44-35 game before Jonathan Velazquez and Dan Rutecki traded jumpers after a timeout. The Monarchs would continue to chip into the Marywood lead and were down just five (46-41) five minutes into the second half. Marywood responded with a quick 7-0 run highlighted by another Corrigan three to put its lead back at 10 (53-41).

King's would not go away though, and a 7-0 run following a timeout got the Monarchs back to within five. A 3-pointer from Nate Oliver made it only a one point game (59-58) with 7:49 remaining. Marywood got another three from Corrigan with 2:33 left to put the Pacers back up seven, 73-66. From there, Marywood stifled the Monarchs' comeback attempt with strong defense and foul shooting.

Corrigan led the Pacers with a game-high 20 points. Harris added 13 while Kellaher and Velazquez each finished with 11. Davis had a game-high 12 boards. Tim O'Shead and Joe Caffrey each had 15 for King's. Marywood finished the game shooting 58 pecent from the field and 56 percent from deep.

Marywood had never beaten King's and entered today's contest 0-10 all-time against the Monarchs with its first meeting coming on Jan. 4, 1999.

Marywood returns to action on January 8 when its resumes CSAC play with a trip to Immaculata University for an 8:00 pm game.

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