GROVE CITY, Pa. (Jan. 9) – Four Bearcats scored in double figures as the Saint Vincent men's basketball team downed the Grove City Wolverines 79-67 at the College Arena in Grove City.
The win kept SVC undefeated in the conference at 6-0, while they also improved to 10-3 overall. Grove City dropped to 4-2 in the conference and 9-4 overall.
Grove City got the scoring started with a layup off of the opening tip. SVC countered with five straight points, including two point baskets from Jaylon Bell and Austin Ford, making it 5-2 early on.
After a Wolverines layup, Bell scored four straight points, pushing the SVC edge to 9-4 with 16:15 to play in the first half.
Later on, Grove City would use a 6-2 run to bring the Bearcats lead to a single point at 13-12 with 13:12 remaining in the half. Senior guard Ben Klimchock quickly brought life back to SVC with back-to-back three-pointers, pushing the edge up to 19-12.
Baskets by Austin Ford and Bell pushed the Bearcats' lead into double figures at 23-13 at the 10:07 mark. After nearly four minutes without a made field goal, Grove City knocked down a three-pointer, making it 23-16.
After a layup by Ford made it 25-16, Grove City answered with a quick 6-0 run bringing the deficit within a single possession. Pat Jones would knock down a wide open trey to answer and push the lead to 28-22.
The Wolverines made a running layup in the lane but Klimchock would convert all three free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt. The three free throws made the Bearcats advantage 31-24 with 5:45 to go in the half.
SVC would methodically work its lead into double figures during the rest of the half. A three-pointer by Matt D'Amico gave SVC its biggest lead of the first half at 44-32. Grove City made a pair of free throws to close out the first half scoring at 44-34.
Bell put together a productive first half, scoring 12 points while chipping in four rebounds and three assists over the first 20 minutes.
Strong shooting helped SVC push the lead to 16 points (55-39) on a layup from Bell at the 17:52 mark of the second half.
After Grove City worked the deficit down to 57-45, Klimchock buried a three-pointer to push the Bearcats lead back to 15. Klimchock added a layup and Howard knocked down a jumper to give SVC a 65-47 lead with 9:41 remaining.
GCC scored baskets on back-to-back possessions, breaking a four minute drought without a field goal and bringing the deficit to 65-51 with 7:03 to play. The Wolverines would use an 8-4 run to cut the Bearcats lead to 69-59 with 4:06 remaining.
Four more Wolverines points cut it to a two possession game at 69-63. However, SVC responded with a basket from Howard and two free throws by D'Amico after a flagrant foul on Grove City, giving the Bearcats a double-digit lead again for good.
Bell led the way with 17 points and 5 assists. Klimchock poured in a season-best 16 points, including three three-pointers. Howard added 16 points, while Jones tallied 12 points. Swartwout pulled down a team-high 8 rebounds.
Caleb Knudsen led the Wolverines with 10 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double. SVC converted 43.1 percent from the field, while making seven three-pointers and knocking down 22-of-30 at the free throw line.
The Bearcats travel to Washington & Jefferson on Wednesday, Jan. 13. The PAC contest is slated for a 6 p.m. tip-off.