| Chad Barcikowski was 3-for-9 for Salisbury but his last made field goal was the game winner. File photo by Salisbury athletics |
Salisbury kept its undefeated season alive in spectacular fashion while Rowan ended Swarthmore's perfect run in a more conventional way.
- Scoreboard: Men | Women
- Saturday game stories: Men | Women
- Women: Hope, E-town headed to break on high note
No. 10 Salisbury edged No. 5 Christopher Newport 59-58 on a half-court shot from Chad Barcikowski to claim victory in a game in which both teams struggled to score. The Sea Gulls (8-0, 4-0 CAC) shot 35 percent from the field while the Captains (6-2, 3-1 CAC) shot just 31 percent.
Christopher Newport erased a four-point deficit in the final three minutes on a pair of free throws from Rayshard Brown and a three from Kevin Regimbal. After a missed three by Salisbury, Regimbal was fouled with 2.9 seconds remaining. He made the first free throw but missed the second, giving Salisbury one last chance to win the game. Recap
Wyatt Smith scored 17 points for Salisbury, which will play its next two games at the D3hoops.com Classic, starting with a game against fellow unbeaten Ramapo. Aaron McFarland had 15 points for the Captains, who drop into a three-way tie for second in the CAC.
The other Top 25 showdown also had an exciting finish with No. 21 Illinois Wesleyan winning at No. 17 Washington U. 73-72. The Titans (7-2) made all four free throws in the final minute to grab the victory. The Bears (6-3) have dropped two straight and play NCAC title contenders Ohio Wesleyan and Wooster when they return from holiday break. Box score
Rowan pushed past No. 15 Swarthmore 92-84 to hand the Garnet its first loss of the season. The Profs built a double-digit advantage midway through the first half before Swarthmore rallied to take a two-point lead on a Robbie Walsh three-point play. The Profs responded with an 8-0 run keyed by a three-point play and conventional three by Nick DePersia on consecutive possessions. Rowan used a full-court press to turn 22 Swarthmore turnovers into 25 points. Box score
On a relatively quiet day for the rest of the Top 25, No. 19 North Park shot 52 percent at home and cruised past Trine 81-62 while No. 25 UW-River Falls shot 56 percent on the road in an 89-58 win over Hamline.
| Joey Weingartner's big day and a great first half helped Capital pull into a tie for first place in the OAC. File photo by Joe Maiorana, Impact Action Sports Photography |
A.J. Edwards rolled up 31 points and 17 rebounds as No. 4 Marietta throttled Wilmington 104-77. No. 13 North Central (Ill.) lost 77-70 at home to NAIA Division II Robert Morris-Chicago.
Outside the Top 25, Capital capped a great week with a 75-62 win at Baldwin Wallace. The Crusaders, who beat No. 16 Denison on Wednesday, held the Yellow Jackets to 18 first-half points and got 36 off the bench from Joey Weingartner and Ganiyu Yahaya. Capital (8-3, 3-1 OAC) enters the holiday break in a four-way tie for first in its conference. OAC standings
New Jersey City headed into the holiday break with an impressive 81-59 victory over Albertus Magnus. The Gothic Knights held the Falcons 31 points below their season scoring average. Virginia Wesleyan also hits the break on a high note after obliterating Wesley, 100-67.
In more exciting finishes, Goucher edged Stevenson 65-64 on Keon Butler's basket with 6.2 seconds remaining. Zavon Johnson's layup with one second left was the difference in Stockton's 80-79 win over Eastern Mennonite.