WESTMINSTER, Md. – Junior Tanner Kirkpatrick (Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle) dropped in 13 points and junior Cody Kiefer (Gettysburg, Pa./Gettysburg) and senior Kevin Gladstone (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) each scored a dozen as Gettysburg College wrapped up a spot in the Centennial Conference playoffs with a 58-46 win at McDaniel College on Saturday.
Gettysburg (16-8, 11-6 CC) needed a win in either of its final two games of the season to clinch a postseason berth and the Bullets took care of business at McDaniel (13-11, 10-8 CC). After falling to the Green Terror on a last-second shot in the first meeting, Gettysburg led from start-to-finish in Saturday's affair.
The visitors started on a strong note as all five starters scored a bucket during a 10-2 run to open the contest. The lead ballooned to 11 (20-9) following a jumper by Gladstone with 5:28 to go in the first period. Kirkpatrick polished off a 10-point first half with a jumper to set the score at 26-17 heading into the break.
A three-pointer by Wes Brooks cut the margin to 26-20 at the start of the second period, but Gettysburg quickly surged out to a double-figure advantage. A three-pointer by sophomore Matt England (Warrington, Pa./Holy Ghost Prep) lifted the lead to 11 (39-28) with 12:45 to play.
McDaniel pulled to 48-41 on putback and free throw by Tim Stewart with 2:52 on the clock. A three-pointer and a lay-up by sophomore Alex Kaslander (Verona, N.J./Verona) followed by a free throw by Kiefer quickly quieted the crowd and set the advantage at 13 (54-41) with just over a minute remaining.
Gettysburg finished 22-of-44 (50 percent) from the floor, while McDaniel finished 18-fo-57 (31.6 percent). The Green Terror finished with a 34-30 advantage on the glass.
Kirkpatrick tacked on eight rebounds and three assists to his point total. Kiefer grabbed seven boards and dished out three helpers, while Gladstone handed out four assists. Kaslander finished with nine points and freshman Mateus Maccieri (Reggio Emilia, Italy/John Carroll School) contributed seven points and four rebounds.
Brooks paced McDaniel with 17 points, while Stewart finished with 14 points and nine rebounds.
Gettysburg closes the regular season against Ursinus College in Bream Gym on Monday, Feb. 22, at 6 p.m. The Bullets will recognize their lone senior – Gladstone – prior to the game.