GWYNEDD VALLEY, PA. -- Rip Engel rattled off a career-high 32 points in Gwynedd Mercy's 79-68 Colonial States Athletic Conference victory over visiting Neumann Tuesday night at The Griffin Complex.

The senior was 10-for-18 from the floor including six three-pointers, which tied a personal best as well. Will Davis added 16 points and 11 rebounds and Rich Dunham scored 14 and added three steals as GMercyU (10-2, 5-1 CSAC) won the matchup of the two playoff finalists from a year ago.

Courtney Cubbage was one rebound shy of tying his career high, pulling down 15 boards. The junior also contributed nine points, three assists, and a pair of blocks. The Griffins, who shot 36% in the first half, found their stroke in the second, going 15-of-32 (46%) while holding the Knights to just 9-of-34 (26%).

In the first half, the teams traded leads five times and saw four ties. Neumann's Isaiah Wilmore finished off a mid-court steal that gave the Knights a 19-13 edge midway in the stanza. Engel then hit a driving layup in the lane and got the foul to cap the three points, but the Knights scored the next five to have their largest lead of the game 24-16 with 7:32 in the half. Engel, who hit four his threes in the first stanza, sunk back-to-back threes to turn a 29-22 deficit into a one-point contest. Engel hit another three to tie the game at 31-31. Each team continued to sink baskets, but the Griffins ended up taking a one-point lead to end the half thanks to a big triple from Ty Jones.  

Tied at 46-46 in the second Davis outplayed three defenders to sink the first of two baskets in the paint followed by two more points off a Dunham finger roll layup for a 52-46 score. Neumann got within 54-52 on two free throws with 10:37 remaining, but Gwynedd widened their lead to double digits, courtesy of a 9-0 run. Billy Cassidy hit a three for the Knights to pull within six (69-63) with 3:31 showing, but the Engel countered with his sixth trifecta to swing the momentum back for good. Dunham hit a layup with two minutes left and Matt Sommers came up with a huge defensive rebound with a minute to go which turned into two points for Cubbage. 

The Knights were led by Raquan Brown-Johnson with 16 points and rebounds 10. Cassidy Tyaire Hudson each contributed 13 points. Aaron Johnson-Chavis also reached a double-double (10 points/10 rebounds) while adding three blocks. 

The squad heads to Clarks Summit this Thursday to continue CSAC play.