Dec 17, 2019
MIAMI SHORES, FLA. – Eric Edwards (Binghamton) scored 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and Ben Walters (Lockport/Starpoint) made four 3-pointers and finished with a career-high 18 points as Cortland defeated Gwynedd Mercy University, 69-60, to finish 2-0 at the HoopMIA D3Holiday Shootout - a predetermined tournament with 10 men's and six women's teams each playing two games.
The Red Dragons improved to 4-2 with the victory. Gwynedd Mercy, the defending Atlantic East Conference champion, fell to 7-3 with the loss. The Griffins defeated SUNYAC member Plattsburgh to advance to the NCAA Division III tournament second round last March.
Edwards finished 6-for-13 from the floor and made all 13 of his free throw attempts. Walters was 7-for-14 from the floor, including 4-of-10 from the arc. Ryan Schmadel (Oriskany) hit three 3-pointers and finished with 11 points. Austin Grunder (Trumansburg/Charles O. Dickerson) entered the game averaging 24 points per game but was held to just four points on 1-of-6 shooting. Grunder, however, led all players with 15 rebounds - his sixth straight game to open the season with at least 15 rebounds
Rich Dunham scored 26 points on 7-of-13 shooting for Gwynedd Mercy. Austin Harriott finished with 11 points and seven boards and Nathaniel Walker added eight points and six steals.
Cortland never trailed in the game, jumping out to an early 14-4 lead and taking a 36-30 edge into halftime. Gwynedd Mercy was within two points twice in the first four minutes of the second half and was still down only four at 48-44 on Donaven Spencer free throw with 7:55 remaining.
Jake DiSanto (Victor) and Schmadel made 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions to extend the Red Dragons' lead to 10. Cortland led by as many as 14 points down the stretch before a late run by the Griffins tightened the margin to single digits.
Cortland will return to action Dec. 29-30 at St. John Fisher's Woodcliff Hotel and Spa Tournament. The Red Dragons will face Pitt Bradford on Dec. 29 at 6 p.m. and will play either SUNY Poly or the host Cardinals on Dec. 30 in either the third-place game at 1 p.m. or the championship game at 3 p.m. Cortland. The Red Dragons won the tournament last year with victories over Keystone and St. John Fisher.