YORK, PA – Junior Blayde Reich converted a three-point play with 39 seconds left as the York College men's basketball team stunned #12 Salisbury University 78-74 in Capital Athletic Conference action Saturday afternoon in York. The Spartans overcame a 12-point deficit in the second half to pull off their second straight upset of Salisbury in Wolf Gymnasium. The loss for Salisbury is the Gulls' first conference loss of the year and drops them into a first place tie with #4 Christopher Newport.

RECORDS

York (Pa.): 10-5, 5-3 CAC

#12 Salisbury: 12-3, 7-1 CAC

TEAM STATS

FG Shooting (%): York 26-for-55 (47.3%), SU 25-for-62 (40.3%)

Three Point Shooting (%): York 9-for-24 (37.5%), SU 7-for-25 (28%)

Free Throw Shooting (%): York 17-for-23 (73.9%), SU 17-for-22 (77.3%)

Rebounding: York 33, SU 41

Assists: York 18, SU 14

Turnovers: York 12, SU 14

Blocked Shots: York 1, SU 12

Steals: York 8, SU 7

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

• After a first half that saw the Sea Gulls keep the Spartans at arm's length, Salisbury opened the second half with five points to push their lead to 12 at 43-31 less than a minute into the half.

• York cut their deficit to seven but every time the Spartans cut into the Salisbury lead, the Gulls would respond with a run of their own to push their advantage into double figures. Salisbury's lead stood at 12 (55-43) with 10:22 left on a Justin Witmer free throw.

• With Salisbury up 11 (57-46), the Spartans fashioned an 8-0 spurt featuring a pair of Brad Wesner threes, trimming York's deficit to 57-54 with 7:21 left in regulation.

• The Sea Gulls continued to hold the lead as they pushed it back to seven on a Witmer three with 4:53 remaining in the game. The Spartans answered with a 9-3 run to cut the Salisbury lead to one at 68-67 with exactly three minutes remaining.  York looked as they had drawn a charging call on Witmer on the ensuing possession but Jared Wagner was called for the block and Witmer converted both free throws to put Salisbury back up three. York missed a three on their next possession and Al Leder made it hurt with a driving lay up as the shot clock was set to expire, putting Salisbury up five with just over two minutes left.

• Reich came up with a huge play on York's next possession as he had a shot blocked by Wyatt Smith but he never gave up on the play, hauling in the critical offensive rebound and kicked it out. Jason Bady made that rebound all the more meaningful as he converted a three, cutting Salisbury's lead to two at 72-70.

• York got a turnover on the next possession but York couldn't covert. The Sea Gulls were able to finish off their next chance as Smith scored a tough, contested lay up, giving Salisbury the four point lead with 49 ticks left on the clock.

• Eight seconds later, Matt Scamuffo converted a deep three pointer from the right wing to bring York to within one with 41 seconds left. York then forced a five second call after a timeout, giving the Green and White a chance to take the lead. Reich made the play York needed as the junior converted the inbounds pass from Wagner into a bucket and he drew the foul, putting York up 75-74 with 39 seconds left. Reich drained the free throw to put York up two.

• Salisbury was forced to use another timeout as they got trapped of the inbounds pass. The Gulls got a great look from Leder on a three-pointer with 16 seconds left but Reich grabbed the rebound and was fouled, sending him to the line with 11.9 seconds left. Reich nailed both, giving York the four-point lead.

• The Sea Gulls got a pair of shot inside the final eight seconds of the game but couldn't convert either as York earned the upset.

• In the first half, Salisbury got off to a good start in the game as they led 19-8 nine minutes into the game. York cut their lead to one at 21-20 but the Sea Gulls ripped off a 9-1 spurt to push the lead back to ten. York outscored the Sea Gulls 10-7 over the final 4:50 of the half but still trailed 38-31 heading to the locker room.

SPARTAN LEADERS

Blayde Reich: 18 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, 6-for-12 from the floor, 6-for-7 from the FT line

Brad Wesner: 18 points, 2 assists, 1 rebound, 6-for-11 from three

Jason Bady: 15 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals

Zack Galic: 11 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist

Jared Wagner: 8 assists, 7 rebounds, 4 points, 1 blocked shot, 1 steal

SEA GULL LEADERS

Al Leder: 16 points, 3 assists, 2 rebounds, 3 steals, 3-for-5 from three

Justin Witmner: 16 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 3-for-6 from three

Gordon Jeter: 11 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists

Wyatt Smith: 10 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, 1 steal

GAME NOTES

The Sea Gulls lead the all-time series 39-35 but the Spartans have won two straight in the series … this is the second time under Matt Hunter that the Spartans have beaten a nationally ranked team at Wolf Gymnasium (February 6, 2014 vs. #6 Wesley, 62-48) … York led for a mere 39 seconds in the game and it was the final 39 seconds … York is now 3-4 when trailing at the half … the Spartans are 41-for-108 (37.9%) from three in their last four games the Spartans' three game win streak is a season high for the Green and White … senior Brad Wesner tallied a career-high 18 points as he drained six threes in the victory … Wesner is 14-for-26 from three over his last three games as he has scored 42 points (14 points per game) in his last three games … Blayde Reich is 12-for-13 from the free throw in his last two games … freshman Jared Wagner has dished out 21 assists with just three turnovers in his last three games … Wagner has also been doing the job on the glass as he has 20 boards in his last three contests including a career-high nine against Frostburg State on Wednesday … York is now 8-2 when at least three Spartans reach double figures in scoring … The Spartans have had more assists than turnovers in five straight games … the Spartans have 34 steals in their last three games … The Spartans are averaging 72.3 points per game for the season but York has been hot offensively lately as they are averaging 86 points per game in their last three contests … York is now 5-2 at home.

LAST FIVE VS. SALISBURY (1-4)

Jan. 30, 2016 @ York, Win 76-68 in OT

Jan. 6, 2016 @ Salisbury, Loss 75-56

Feb. 21, 2015 @ York, Loss, 85-77 in 2OT

Jan. 10, 2015 @ Salisbury, Loss 88-51

Feb. 15, 2014 @ Salisbury, Loss 76-67

UP NEXT

The Spartans return to action on Wednesday evening as they kick off a two game road trip with a trek to St. Mary's City, Maryland to face the Seahawks in a Capital Athletic Conference contest. Tip time at the ARC Sports Arena is set for 8:00 pm.