(Carlisle, Pa.) – The Dickinson College men's basketball team opened strong against visiting Haverford but the 'Fords answered and held on in the late going for a 74-71 win on Saturday.
The Red Devils shot 57 percent from the field and controlled the boards, 36-24, but struggled at the free throw line, hitting just 10-of-18 on the afternoon.
Dickinson jumped out to an early lead, pulling in front, 11-4, with 14 minutes to play in the first half. The Devils held a 4-6 point lead for much of the opening stanza.
Haverford rallied with a 13-2 run at the end of the half to take a 30-24 lead with 2:04 on the clock. The 'Fords went into the break with a 32-29 advantage.
The visitors held the lead for the first seven minutes of the second half. Sophomore Adam Honig (Chappaqua, N.Y./Horace Greeley) tied the game for the fifth time at 40-40 with 13:27 remaining in regulation.
The teams went back-and-forth, knotting the game at 47-47 before Haverford used a 10-3 run behind a pair of three-pointers to take a 57-50 lead at the 6:36 mark.
The Devils fought back, cutting the deficit to 63-60 with just under two minutes remaining in regulation. Haverford used a free throw and jumper from Bo Friddell to stretch the lead to 66-60 with 42 seconds to play.
Honig scored on a driving lay-up and was fouled. He converted to pull the Devils within a possession with 37 seconds on the clock.
Dickinson appeared to commit a pair of fouls before a whistle eventually flagged the Devils, but with an intentional foul. That put Louis Cipriano on the line, and kept the ball in the hands of Haverford.
Cipriano converted both and Haverford scored off the inbounds pass to pull in front, 70-63, with 28 seconds to play.
The Devils were able to claw back into it as Steve Collins (Rydal, Pa./La Salle College) drained a three-pointer and Honig answered a pair of Cipriano free throws with another basket to make the score, 72-68.
Haverford turned the ball over on the next possession and junior Logan Furr (Sharon, Mass./Beaver Country Day) knocked-down a huge three-pointer to pull the Devils within one, with eight seconds remaining in regulation.
The Devils put Cipriano on the line again, and he answered, hitting both free throws. The Devils had one final chance to tie the game but the shot was off the mark as Haverford held on, 74-71.
Wixted scored a game-high 21 points, adding 13 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season. He dished out four assists and blocked a pair of shots as well.
Honig matched Wixted with 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting, adding three assists.
Tucker Landy (Durham, Conn./Xavier) added 10 points, four rebounds and a pair of blocked shots. Collins finished in double-figures as well, scoring 10 points to go with five rebounds.
Ian Goldberg led Haverford (4-8, 2-4) with 18 points. Cam Baker added 15 and Cipriano finished with 12, going 6-for-6 from the line.
The Red Devils slip to 5-8 overall and 2-4 in the Centennial Conference. They are home again next Thursday, hosting Washington College at 8:00 pm.