GETTYSBURG, Pa. – The University of Scranton men's basketball team held Gettysburg to a single point over a span of 6:39 late in the game to pull out a 63-54 victory over the Bullets at Bream Gym on Wednesday night.

Scranton (4-8) trailed 50-46 with 6:45 to play, but limited Gettysburg (3-8) to just one point until there were six seconds left in the game when the Bullets hit a meaningless 3-pointer to get the final margin to single digits. Before that triple, the Royals had gone on a 17-1 game-changing run.

The Royals held Gettysburg to 0-for-6 from the field and forced three turnovers during the decisive stretch. The Bullets also missed three free throws while Scranton went 4-for-9 from the field and 7-for-8 from the free throw line to take control.

Sophomore forward Matthew Mancuso (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan) led Scranton with a game-high 18 points, eight rebounds, three steals and two assists. Senior guard Mitch Cross (Marriottsville, Md./Loyola-Blakefield) continued his hot shooting with three 3-pointers en route to 17 points, six rebounds, two assists and a steal. And sophomore guard Kyle DeVerna (Rockville Centre, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) added 15 points in the victory.

Scranton shot just 39.2 percent (20-for-51) from the field, but was outstanding at the line, making 19 of 23 (82.6 percent). The Royals also made 4 of 18 from the free throw line and won the battle of the boards, 32-29. Scranton committed 14 turnovers and had a 24-19 edge in bench points.

Gettysburg was led by Cameron Stewart, who had 17 points and five rebounds. The Bullets shot 47.8 percent (22-for-46), including just 6 of 23 (26.1 percent) from 3-point range. They also made just 4 of 10 at the free throw line and committed 18 turnovers.

The Royals will now move into Landmark Conference play for the remainder of the regular season, beginning with a matchup against Elizabethtown on Saturday, Jan. 6, at 2 p.m. in the Long Center.

--ROYALS--