(GREENVILLE, Pa.) –Sophomore guard/forward Nate McGovney (Alexandria, Ky./Campbell County) scored a game-high 22 points today (Saturday, February 7, 2015) to lead the Thomas More College men's basketball team to a 78-73 win over Thiel College in a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) game at Beeghly Gymnasium in Greenville, Pennsylvania.
With the win, the Saints improve to 15-7 overall and 10-3 in the PAC. With the loss, the Tomcats fall to 11-10 overall and 7-5 in the PAC.
Thiel jumped out to an early 19-9 lead when Avril Campbell made a lay-up with 12:48 to play in the first half. Thomas More answered with a 6-2 run to cut the lead to 21-15 when freshman forward Cameron Fitts (Spencer County, Ky./Spencer County) made a three-point with 10:24 to play in the half. Thiel answered with a 6-0 run to increase the lead to 27-15 with 8:16 to play in the half when Justin Dade made a lay-up. The Saints came right back with an 11-5 run to take a 36-32 lead with 1:59 to play in the first half when senior forward Drew Mumford (Louisville, Ky./Christian Academy) made an old fashion three-point play. Thiel's Eric Mallenger made a lay-up with four-seconds to play in the half to cut the lead 36-34 at halftime.
Thiel opened the second half on a 13-7 run to take a 47-43 lead when Campbell made one-of-two free-throws with 13:23 to play in the game. Thomas More answered with a 12-2 run capped by a three-pointer by senior guard Eliot Pipes (Nashville, Tenn./Hillsboro) to give the Saints a 55-49 lead with 11:10 to play in the game. Thiel responded with a 12-4 run to take a 61-59 lead with 6:07 to play in the game when Dade made a lay-up. Thomas More would then close out the game on a 19-12 run to claim the 78-73 victory.
Joining McGovney in double-figure scoring was senior forward Jalen Clark (Frankfort, Ky./Western Hills) with 18 points, Mumford with 13 points and Pipes with 10 points. Mumford led the team on the boards with seven rebounds, while freshman guard Daniel Williams (Louisville, Ky./Jeffersontown) led the team in assists with four.
The Saints return to action on Wednesday (February 11) when they close out their four-game PAC road trip as they travel to Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania to play Geneva College. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. inside Metheny Fieldhouse.