BEAVER FALLS, Pa. (Jan. 28) – Austin Ford recorded 17 points and 8 rebounds as the Saint Vincent men's basketball team defeated Geneva 73-60 in a Presidents' Athletic Conference game the Metheny Fieldhouse.
 
Saint Vincent put together another strong shooting effort, converting 49 percent of its field goal attempts in the contest. Ford, the Bearcats' lone senior, led the way with 16 points and 7 rebounds.
 
After Matt D'Amico opened the game with a jumper on the Bearcats' first possession, Geneva scored five straight to take an early 5-2 lead over the Bearcats.
 
D'Amico and Ford would counter with back-to-back layups to put the Bearcats up 6-5 at the 15:55 mark of the first half. Coy Patterson Jr. would add a three-point play to five SVC a 9-7 edge. D'Amico and Patterson would convert back-to-back field goals to extend the advantage to 13-8 with 12:05 to play in the half.
 
A three-pointer by freshman Josh Duda would make it 19-11 Bearcats with 9:38 to play. Three straight points by Tom Kromka helped push the lead into double-digits for the first time, making it 22-11 at the 8:03 mark.
 
The lead remained in double digits until Geneva used a layup to cut the SVC lead to 25-16 with 5:38 left in the half. That would not last long thought as Malique McLaren would split a pair of free throws and Mike Simmonswould tack on a three-pointer to make it 29-16 in favor of the Bearcats with 4:18 left.
 
Saint Vincent would hold a double-digit advantage for the rest of the half. Capping the first half scoring was Ford, who made a layup with 9 seconds left to make it 35-22 after 20 minutes.
 
The Bearcats shot 50 percent in the first half, converting 13 of 26 from the field. Meanwhile, the GT's connected on just 7-of-30 shots, including 0-for-7 from behind the three-point line. D'Amico led a balanced attack with 8 points, while Patterson and Ford each had 7 points at half.
 
SVC opened the second half on a 9-3 run to take its largest lead of the game at 17 (44-27) with 16:34 to play. Dedert finished the run with five straight points, including a three-point play. Geneva would score three straight points but Simmons answered with a three-pointer of his own, making it 47-30.
 
From there Geneva would start to chip away from that point, cutting the deficit back into single digits (54-45) with a layup at the 8:13 mark. A little later, back-to-back field goals brought the home team within five (60-55) with 3:21 to play.
 
However, Saint Vincent would effectively put the game away with a 9-1 run, taking a 69-56 lead with 1:29 play. Ford started the run with a dunk, before Kromka converted an old fashioned three-point play with a basket and layup to make it 65-55 with 2:27 left.
 
Solid free throw shooting down the stretch helped the Bearcats finish off their seventh straight win.
 
Along with Ford's strong game, Patterson tallied 11 points and D'Amico added in 10 to give the Bearcats three scorers in double digits. Ford and Kromka each led in rebounding with 8 boards.  
 
Saint Vincent held a large advantage at the free throw line, making 22-of-30 free throws. Geneva hit on 10-of-15 at the stripe.
 
The victory improves Saint Vincent to 15-4 overall and 11-1 in PAC play. Geneva dropped to 9-10 overall and falls to even in conference play at 6-6.
 
After three straight on the road, the Bearcats host Waynesburg University on Wednesday, Feb. 1st at the Carey Center. The Bearcats and Yellow Jackets are slated for 7:30 p.m. tip-off.