PROVIDENCE, RI – Five players scored in double figures, including three with at least 20, as the 17th-ranked Johnson & Wales University men's basketball team ran its winning streak to 20 games. The Wildcats prevailed over Anna Maria College, 98-63, at home on Saturday.
Records:
Johnson & Wales: 20-1, 14-0 GNAC
Anna Maria: 11-10, 7-7 GNAC
JWU Statistical Leaders:
Quarry Greenaway: 24 points, 10 rebounds
Tom Garrick: 22 points, 13 rebounds, 3 blocks
Anthony Jernigan: 22 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals
The Lead:
If it's possible to win by 35 points and not play your best, the Wildcats certainly did that. Johnson & Wales turned the ball over 18 times – its highest total in its last 16 contests – and missed 16 free throws. JWU made up for it by shooting 55 percent (33-of-60) from the floor and hitting seven three pointers.
Of Note:
The victory gave Johnson & Wales 20 victories for the third-straight season and the fifth time in program history. The national leader in scoring margin – for all three NCAA Division – at 28.2 points per game, the Wildcats have won 13 of their last 14 games by 20 or more points.
For the first time in at least six years, Johnson & Wales had three players score 20 or more points. Leading all scorers with 24 points and 10 rebounds was senior Quarry Greenaway (Westchester, NY). Also recording a double-double was backcourt mate Tom Garrick (Seekonk, Mass.) with 22 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. It's the first time two Wildcats have had a double-double in the same game since the duo did it against Emmanuel on January 18.
Rounding out the 20-point scorers was guard Anthony Jernigan (East Hartford, Conn.) with a season-high 22 markers. He also had six assists, five steals and five rebounds. Joining the trio in double figures was Jarell Lawson (Providence, RI) with 11 points and Robert Lewis (Providence, RI) also had 11. The Emmanuel game on January 18 was also the last time JWU had five guys in double figures.
The opening nine minutes were very closely contested as JWU struggled to find its rhythm offensively. The AMCATS took an 18-17 lead on a Corey Pryor jumper at the 11:03 mark. From there however, the Wildcats took over the game with a 12-0 run. Greenaway scored seven points during the stretch and Lawson put JWU up 29-18 with a three-pointer with 9:45 left in the half. Anna Maria would only get the lead down to seven the rest of the game.
Anna Maria had two players with double figure rebounds, led by Patrick Bradanese with 11 boards and 15 points for a double-double. Kyle Missick just missed a double-double with 10 rebounds and nine points. Pryor had 14 points off the bench.
Up Next:
The top two teams in the GNAC square off for the second time in a week when Lasell comes to town for a 7 p.m. tipoff on Tuesday.