ST. MARY'S CITY, MD (www.OLDWESTBURYPANTHERS.com) –The SUNY College at Old Westbury men's basketball team opened the Seahawk Holiday Classic with a 100-97 win over the Misericordia Cougars Saturday afternoon from the O'Brien ARC Arena.  The win improves Old Westbury to 7-2 on the season while Misericordia fell to 6-4.

Old Westbury held an early 9-6 lead before Misericordia answered with a 19-10 run from 15:36 to 8:55 to take a 25-19 lead, their largest of the game.  Old Westbury replied with a 19-5 run from 8:39 to 5:21 to grab a 36-28 advantage with 5:21 remaining in the half.  Kerel Mitchell connected on a three-pointer with 39 seconds left to give Old Westbury a 46-44 lead at the half.  

The second-half featured five ties and 14 lead changes.  Old Westbury went up by as many as seven points when Tyrik Tucker drained a three-pointer with 5:27 left for an 88-81 advantage.  Cael Evans gave Misericordia a late lead off a layup with 2:04 remaining for a 94-93 lead.  Old Westbury grabbed the lead for good on a Rashawn McCarthy three-pointer with 1:45 showing on the clock for a 96-94 lead.

Kerel Mitchell and Rashawn McCarthy both poured in 20 points to lead Old Westbury in scoring.  Old Westbury also received double-digit scoring from Tyrik Tucker (19), Josh Hill (16), Ty Moore (13) and Omari Trebuse (10).  Mitchell nabbed a game-high four steals while Tucker and Trebuse led Old Westbury with six assists and eight rebounds, respectively. 

Matt Greene scored a game-high 23 points for Misericordia while Cael Evans (17), Jesse Urich (15), Justin Grotevant (13) and Joe Busacca followed in double-digits.  Greene dished out a game-best nine assists and Grotevant added 10 rebounds to record the lone double-double on the day. 

Old Westbury registered 17 assists while committing only eight turnovers, the least amount of miscues since posting eight against Yeshiva on December 1, 2011.  Old Westbury scored 24 points off 17 Misericordia turnovers and dropped in 11 second chance points off 12 offensive rebounds.  Misericordia held a 37-32 rebounding advantage.  

Old Westbury shot 49.3 percent from the field (36-73), 57.7 percent from three-point range (15-26) and 65 percent from the free-throw line (13-20).  The 15 three-pointers marked the third time this season Old Westbury connected on double-digits from long distance.  Misericordia connected on 59.7 percent from the floor (40-67), 53.8 percent from beyond the arc (14-26) and 42.9 percent from the charity stripe (3-7). 
 
SWARTHMORE GARNET UP NEXT FOR THE PANTHERS: Old Westbury returns to the hardwood for the Seahawk Holiday Classic on Sunday (Dec.30) afternoon, taking on the Swarthmore Garnet in St. Mary's City, Maryland.  Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. from the O'Brien ARC Arena.      

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