Gwynedd Mercy Downs Cairn, Cements Playoff Berth

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GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA. -- The Gwynedd Mercy University Men's Basketball pulled away with an 84-67 victory over Cairn University on Wednesday evening at the Griffin Complex. With the win the Griffins (16-4, 10-3 CSAC) clinched a berth in the Colonial States Athletic Conference playoffs for the 14th year in a row.

Arron Goodman led the offensive charge with a game-high 23 points. Cedric Elleby added 13 for his seventh game in a row with double figures.

In an exciting first half, both teams traded seven lead changes. The Highlanders (4-14, 2-11 CSAC) jumped out early to a 10-2 lead thanks to a Jeremiah Harris layup.  The Griffins would answer with a 10-0 run capped by a Rip Engel three ball for a 12-10 lead with 12:58 remaining in the half.  Gwynedd would stretch their lead to ten (26-16) on a Rich Dunham bucket with 8:34 left. Cairn would answer back with a JD Zamroz triple for their last lead of the half (27-26), to cap their own 11-0 run. The Griffins would close out the stanza with an eight-point advantage 39-31 with another Dunham layup with seven seconds remaining. Arron Goodman led GMercyU with 15 first half points on 6-of-7 shooting, as a team the Griffins shot 54.8% (17-of-31).

Goodman's three-point play five minutes into the second would open the lead into double figures (51-39). A Cairn three pointer from Gerroid Doughty II would bring the score to 62-49 halfway through the second half. However GMercyU would put the game away with a pair of back-to-back three pointers from Kevin Ashenfelter to give the Griffins a sizable 68-49 advantage. Cairn could get no closer than 12 points the rest of the way.

The Griffins controlled the glass, 39-26, with Goodman and Elleby each grabbing eight caroms.

Gwynedd, who shot a season second-best 57.1% for the game, held Cairn to 38.3% shooting (23-of-60) from the floor and forced 15 turnovers that led to 22 points.

Will Davis and Dunham lead the Griffin bench scoring with eight apiece to outscore the Highlanders, 55-10. Courtney Cubbage doled out six assists while Dunham, Matt Sommers, and Drew Dietterich all handed out four each.

The Griffins return back to action on Saturday when they host Rosemont at 3 p.m.