The Saint Vincent men's basketball team battled but lost to York College, 69-65, in the opening round of the Franklin & Marshall College Tournament in Lancaster, PA.
The teams played evenly through the first 10 minutes, with SVC taking a 16-14 lead on a jumper by Jason Capco with 9:06 remaining in the first half. From there, the Bearcats held the lead for the remainder of the half.
Buckets by Malique McLaren and Collin Neville extended the lead to five, 20-15, and Capco then completed a 6-0 run with a drive and score at the 7:15 mark that made it a 22-15 game.
Two scores from Tom Kromka extended the lead to eight (26-18). Kromka later added a pair of free throws and a score off a pass around a defender from Capco, as SVC went into the locker room with a five-point advantage, 34-29.
The Saint Vincent lead grew to nine early in the seconhalf, when a drive and score by Matt D'Amico put SVC in front 42-33 at the 15:35 mark. However, the Bearcats would not score another field goal until Coy Patterson Jrhit a jumper with 9:58 to go that made it a three-point game, 45-42.
After a basket by York made it 45-44, Kromka scored at the 9:11 mark to run the lead back to three, but York score the game's next six points – four from the free throw line – to take a 50-47 lead at the 7:35 mark.
Capco then tied the game when he drove to the hoop, scored, drew a foul and hit the free throw.
The Spartans added four points to retake the lead, 54-50 with 6:15 remaining, but Austin Dedert scored twice to help close the gap to two, 56-54.
Kromka then tied the game with a drive through the lane and a layup, and followed with a block on defense that returned the ball to the Bearcats. Mike Simmons then drained a three from the corner to give SVC a 59-56 lead with 3:49 on the clock.
A little over a minute later, a Bearcat turnover led to a fast break dunk by York's Jason Bady, tying the game, 60-60.
Down 61-60, the Bearcat reclaimed the lead, again thanks to Kromka, who scored and drew a foul. The free throw put SVC in front, 63-61 with 1:44 remaining, but the Bearcats were unable to score on their next two possessions, while the Spartans converted four straight shots at the line to take a 65-63 lead with 45 ticks left. The Bearcats drove the ball downcourt but a potential tying shot rimmed out, and York grabbed the rebound and SVC ran out of time to get back into the game.
Kromka led Saint Vincent with a career-high 17 points, while Patterson added 12. Capco, Dedert and Ford each had 7 for Saint Vincent (0-2). Kromka had a team-high 8 rebounds, while Capco grabbed 7 boards.