WILMINGTON, Del. – The College of Saint Rose rallied from an early deficit before falling 73-71 this afternoon at Goldey-Beacom in a tight contest that was a one-possession affair throughout the final seven-plus minutes.
The Golden Knights (5-5) shot 53.2 percent (25-for47) from the floor and outscored the Lightning (5-6) 17-12 from the foul line. However, Goldey-Beacom canned 40.9 (9-for-20) percent of its chances from the arc, while Saint Rose converted just 20.0 percent (4-for-20) of its opportunities.
The Golden Knights shook off a slow start and rebounded from a 10-2 deficit to go in the locker room up 43-41 at intermission. It was then anyone's ballgame throughout the final 20 minutes.
The Lightning eventually took the lead for good when freshman forward Kevon Ferguson finished inside to make it 67-66 with 1:30 remaining. Sophomore guard Mekhi Collins then drained a jumper to push the margin to three, 69-66, with 45 seconds to go after Saint Rose came up empty at the other end.
Freshman forward
Shane O'Dell responded with a layup that trimmed the margin back to one with 25 seconds left. The Golden Knights however were forced to foul with the shot clock off and senior guard Tyler Jones took advantage by going 4-for-4 over a pair of trips to the line in the final 16 seconds to seal the victory.
Regardless, Saint Rose still had a chance to afford the game its sixth tie with the Lightning holding a tenuous three-point, 71-68, lead after Jones' first two free throws. O'Dell got space on the arc off an inbound play only to see his shot roll around the rim and out.
Jones then followed with his second trip to the line and fifth-year guard
Adam Anderson knocked down a perfunctory 3-pointer at the buzzer.
O'Dell finished with 18 points while sophomore forward
Eric Fleming tossed in 14 on 5-for-7 shooting to lead four Saint Rose players in twin figures scoring. Anderson and sophomore forward
Josh McGettigan added 11 and 10 respectively, while freshman forward
Jermaine Taggart scored a season-high nine points in 17 minutes off the bench. Freshman guard
Tray Alexander handed out eight assists and came up with three steals.
Junior forward Juran Ligonde registered a monster "double-double" of 26 points and 12 rebounds to pace Goldey-Beacom.
Up next, both squad have long breaks before taking part in road non-conference contests on Thursday, December 30. The Golden Knights head downstate to face Saint Thomas Aquinas, which is receiving votes in the week's D2SIDA National Media Poll. Meanwhile, the Lightning travel to Springfield to face American International.
Notes: O'Dell has been in twin-figures in all but two contest thus far…He was named the NE10 Rookie of the Week for the second time this season on Monday…Alexander has distributed 20 assists in the past two games.
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