YORK, PA – The York College men's basketball team picked up its first home victory of the year as the Spartans ran past Misericordia University 73-55 on Saturday afternoon in York.
The win snapped a three-game skid at Wolf Gymnasium for the Spartans as York improves to 5-8 overall. The loss is the fourth straight for Misericordia as the Cougars fall to 6-7.
The Cougars jumped on York early as they led 13-8 just 4:18 into the game. York went on a quick 9-0 spurt capped by a Chad Styer (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown) triple as the Spartans took a 17-13 lead with 12:03 left in the first half.
A lay up by Justin Grotevant and a three from Anthony Sergio gave the Cougars their final lead of the night as York scored the next six points of the game to take a 23-18 lead. Misericordia cut the Spartan lead to four on another Grovtevant lay up but the Spartans scored the next ten points of the game to increase their lead to 14 at 36-22. The Cougars scored seven of the final 11 points of the half as their deficit stood at 11 points (40-29) at the break.
York wasted little time in building on the lead in the opening two and a half minutes of the second half. York scored the first six points of the stanza, pushing the lead to 17 at 46-29. Misericordia answered with a 10-0 run, cutting the Spartan lead to 46-39 with 15:34 remaining in the game.
The Spartan lead vacillated between nine and 15 points over the next ten minutes as York maintained control of the game. The Spartans outscored the Cougars 11-2 over the final five minutes of the game, providing for the Spartans' final 18-point margin of victory.
Senior Jeremy Skoloda (Leola, Pa./Conestoga Valley) was outstanding as he tied a career-high with 19 points while he established a new career-high with nine rebounds. Skoloda was a very efficient 6-for-9 from the floor including 3-of-4 from three. The senior guard also cashed in all four of his free throw attempts in the win. Fellow senior Julian Watson (Odenton, Md./Arundel)also played very well as he contributed 16 points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal in 28 minutes of work.
Styer was the third Spartan in double figures as he had 14 points, two rebounds, and an assist in just 19 minutes. He was 4-for-6 from three while he also converted both of his free throw attempts.
Sergio paced the Cougars as he recorded 14 points. Sergio was deadly from beyond the arc as he finished the game 4-for-5 from distance. Matt Greene and Grotevant each added 12 points while Greene also had five rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals.
The Spartans finished the game shooting a blistering 53.3% from the floor. It was the fourth time this year that York has converted 50% or more from the field. York canned 11-of-20 (55%) from three, tying their season-high for three point field goals made in a game. York is 22-for-46 (47.8%) from beyond the arc in their last two games.
Misericordia shot 40.4% from the floor while they made a solid 9-of-20 (45%) from distance.
The Spartans held a significant edge at the charity stripe as York was 14-for-17 while Misericordia was 0-for-2.
York outrebounded their guests 32-26 while both squads had 16 turnovers.
The Green and White jumps back into conference play on Wednesday evening as they host Salisbury in their Capital Athletic Conference home opener. Tip time from Wolf Gymnasium is set for 8:00 pm.