Carey Action Photography
69
Marywood M-397
74
Winner Gwynedd Mercy M-12399
Marywood M-397
69
Final
74
Gwynedd Mercy M-12399
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Marywood M-397 34 35 69
Gwynedd Mercy M-12399 35 39 74

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Marywood Falls in Regular Season Finale, Hosts Semifinal Wednesday

Gwynedd Valley, Pa. – Gwynedd Mercy University earned the top-seed in the upcoming Atlantic East Conference playoffs with a 74-69 win over Marywood Saturday afternoon.

The Pacers (16-9, 8-4 AEC) will be the tournament's number two seed, Marywood's highest ever conference finish after regular season play. Both teams entered the final regular season game with identical 16-8 (8-3 league) records, with the winner guaranteeing themselves home-court advantage throughout the playoffs as the top overall seed. Both teams will have a bye Monday and host semifinals Wednesday.

Tone Cockrell led the Pacers with 20 points, including 11 in a row for the Pacers in the final 3:23.  Jeremy Ringland finished with 17 and Jack DeGroot 12. Jaden Rhoden had a game-high 10 rebounds and eight points.

Courtney Cubbage led all scorers with a game-high 25 for the Griffins (17-8, 9-3). He completed a double-double and tied with Rhoden with 10 boards.

Tied at 7-7 through nearly three and a half minutes of play, Marywood exploded on a 19-2 run over the next five minutes to take a 26-9 lead with 10:31 to go in the opening frame.

Over the next seven minutes, however, GMU responded with a 20-5 run of their own, closing the deficit to just two points (31-29) with three remaining in the opening half. 

After a three from Marywood's Ringland, GMU closed the half on a 6-0 run to take a one-point, 35-34. In all, the Griffins out-scored Marywood 26-8 over the final 10:31 of the half.

Rich Dunham went 3-for-4 from behind the arc for the Griffins in the opening half to lead them with 11 points at the break. Ringland was 3-for-5 and 2-of-2 from long range to lead Marywood with eight at the half.

Already up 59-56, a 5-0 run from the hosts on three free throws and a layup between the 5:42 and 4:43 mark put them in control, but Marywood would not go away.

After a Ringland layup to the Pacers to within five (63-58), Tone Cockrell's old-fashioned three-point play with 3:23 to go gave the Pacers some life. But GMU responded at the other end with a jumper, and after a steal and lay-in the Griffins again led by six (67-61) with 2:35 to play. 

Cockrell nailed two more freebies at the 2:30 mark to get Marywood back to within four (67-63). GMU quickly scored on a lay-in after a Marywood timeout, and after a missed effort at the other end of the court by the Pacers the Griffins scored again to take an eight point, 71-63 lead. 

That quick 4-0 spurt turned into a 6-0 run after a missed Marywood three and fast-break layup and 10-point lead for the hosts.

With under a minute remaining, the Pacers and Cockrell did their best to make a game of it again. Cockrell nailed two more free throws and followed with his ninth straight point on a layup.  Marywood took a foul on the next inbounds play to send Cockrell to the line again, and after sinking both the Pacers were down just four, 73-69 with 24 seconds remaining.

Forced to foul to regain possession, Marywood sent GMU to the line several times where they sank one to seal the five point win.

Marywood's home semifinal game Wednesday will be played at 7:00 pm in the Insalaco Arena. They will host the highest remaining seed after Monday's two first-round games are played.  Gwynedd Mercy will host the lowest remaining seed after Monday's opening round action.
 
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