YORK, PA – The York College men's basketball team gutted out a tight 64-61 Capital Athletic Conference win over the University of Mary Washington on Saturday afternoon in York.
The game featured big runs by both teams as the Spartans took the lead late and hung on to earn the key conference win.
Game #5
Records: York 5-0 (2-0 CAC), UMW 5-2, (1-1 CAC)
Final Score: York 64, UMW 61
Field Goals: York 22-for-56, UMW 24-for-64
Field Goal %: York 39.3%, UMW 37.5%
Three Point FG: York 7-for-23, UMW 9-for-31
Three Point FG %: York 30.4%, UMW 29%
Free Throws: York 13-for-23, UMW 4-for-6
Free Throw %: York 56.5%, UMW 66.7%
Rebounds: York 42, UMW 37
Assists: York 15, UMW 13
Blocked Shots: York 4, UMW 4
Steals: York 14, UMW 10
How It Happened
• The Eagles jumped all over the Spartans early as Mary Washington sprinted out to a 12-4 lead just 4:43 into the game. The Eagles eventually pushed their lead to 11 on an Austin Hall three pointer with 13:35 left in the first half.
• The Spartans went on a huge 24-6 run, turning their 11-point deficit into a seven-point lead. The run was started by a pair of big three pointers from Mike Frauenheim while Jason Bady and Joey Polczynski ended the run with seven points from Bady and five points from Polczynski as it looked like York was starting to take control of the game.
• The Eagles answered with a run of their own as the ended the half with a 12-2 spurt over the final 6:05 of the opening stanza. Khiorie Stewart led the charge with the final five points of the half for the Eagles. Mary Washington took a 35-32 lead to the break and that's the first time in five games that York went to the intermission trailing.
• Mary Washington came roaring out of the half much like they did to start the game as they scored the first six points of the second half to push out to a 41-32 lead just 1:08 into the stanza. The Spartans responded with five straight points, cutting their deficit to four. The Eagles pushed their lead back up to ten at 49-39 but that was as big as it would get in the second half. York then embarked on a prolonged 15-3 run that covered almost seven minutes of game time. That run gave York a 54-52 lead with 7:06 left in the game.
• The Eagles would eventually recapture the lead on an A.J. Robinson triple and pushed the lead to a pair on an Eric Shaw free throw with 6:37 left. The Spartans took the lead for good on a Jared Wagner three and then pushed their advantage to five on a pair of Blayde Reich free throws.
• Mary Washington scored five of the next six points of the game as the Spartan lead stood at just one when Dalton Myers collected an offensive rebound and was fouled with 35 seconds left. He split the pair leaving the York advantage at two, 63-61. Myers missed the second free throw but when Jacob Williams grabbed the rebounds he stepped out of bounds, giving the ball right back to the Spartans. York inbounded the ball but A.J. Robinson got a steal, giving the Eagles the ball down two with 28 seconds left. After a timeout, the Eagles set up a play and Wagner came up with his fifth steal of the day as he picked Eric Shaw's pocket with 15 seconds left. Wagner was fouled and had a chance to put it away. The sophomore split the pair giving the Eagles one last chance to tie. Eagle Drew Johnson had a contested look from the left wing with the clock winding down but his shot was off and the Spartans held off the Eagles for the win.
Spartan Leaders
Blayde Reich: 16 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal, 33 minutes
Jason Bady: 13 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 5 steals, 29 minutes
Dalton Myers: 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocked shots, 1 assist, 30 minutes
Jared Wagner: 7 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 steals, 1 blocked shot, 26 minutes
Mary Washington Leaders
Eric Shaw: 13 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 30 minutes
Khiorie Stewart: 12 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocked shots, 18 minutes
Johnny Cronin: 8 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 blocked shot, 2 steals, 26 minutes
Game Notes:
The Spartans hold a 36-34 all-time lead in the series as they have won three straight at home against the Eagles … the game went against all the Spartan offensive trends for the year … York shot a season-low 39.3% from the floor and was held below 83 points for the first time this year … the three point win was their lowest margin of victory and was the first time they didn't win by double figures … the seven three point field goals made were their lowest of the season, second to Wednesday's eight at Wesley … the Spartans struggled from the line as they converted just 13-of-23 (56.6%) from the stripe, their worst percentage of the year … York had a season-high 20 turnovers but fortunately, the Eagles only converted those miscues into 16 points … York held the Eagles to 26 points in the second half as UMW shot 32.8% (9-for-28) in the second half … York finished with a 42-37 edge on the glass, aided by the 26-16 advantage in rebounding in the second half … York had nine offensive rebounds in the second half and 11 in the game … senior Blayde Reich scored 14 of his game-high 16 points in the second half … Reich had a season-high five assists in the win … junior Jason Bady set a new career-high with five steals … Bady's 13 points tied his season high which he set on Wednesday night at Wesley … sophomore Joey Polczynski had a career-high seven points as he was 3-for-4 from the floor while he also had two rebounds, a blocked shot and a steal in his 15 minutes of action … sophomore Jared Wagner pulled in a season-high eight rebounds while he tied his season-high with five steals … Wagner now has 17 steals in five games for the Green and White … Wagner leads the CAC in steals per game (3.4) while Bady is third at 2.4 steals per game … Wagner is second in the league in assists per game at 4.4 … Reich is third in the CAC in scoring (19.4 ppg) while teammate Dalton Myers is sixth at 16.2 points per game … York had more turnovers than assists for the first time this season (15 assists, 20 turnovers) … the Spartans 5-0 start is the best under sixth year head coach Matt Hunter … the 5-0 start bests the 4-0 beginning to the 2015-16 season … the Spartans are one of three 2-0 teams in the CAC (Frostburg State and Marymount) and those are York's next two opponents.
Up Next:
The Spartans return to Wolf Gymnasium on Wednesday evening as they are set to host Frostburg State University in a Capital Athletic Conference contest. The Bobcats picked up a huge road win on Saturday as the defeated defending league champion Christopher Newport 83-81 in overtime in Newport News. Wednesday's tip time is slated for 8:00 pm. The Bobcats enter the game with a mark of 4-2 overall and a 2-0 record in the CAC.