Gwynedd Valley, Pa. - (1/12/2023) -  The Griffin Complex was at a fever pitch this evening as a semester's return and the lure of the inaugural Atlantic East Conference "Play for Joey" Games filled the bleachers with fans for a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) White Out. A well-played first half saw both teams shoot 50.0% or better from the field and from three-point range. Gwynedd Mercy University (8-7, 2-0) flipped the switch on defense in the latter frame, holding Marywood University (6-9, 0-3) to a 8-of-23 (.348) shooting performance that was mired by 10 turnovers and a dizzying effort for senior guard Manny Clark (Pottsgrove, Pa.) that left himself with a career-high 38 points and the Griffins with a 95-82 league victory.

Griffin Highlights

• Gwynedd Mercy University shot 18-of-33 (.545) from the field, 6-of-12 (.500) from three-point range, and 5-of-5 (1.000) from the free throw line in a high-scoring first half that saw the Griffins trail by a narrow 48-47 margin.
• The Griffins held a 13-9 (14:21) after the early back-and-forth. But the upper hand was short live in a tightly played first half included four ties and 15 lead changes.
• Clark was 5-of-6 (.833) from the field and 2-of-2 (1.000) from the free throw line in the opening frame. By game's end he hit four (4-of-5, .800) threes in a 14-of-19 (.737) shooting effort that was accompanied by a perfect 6-of-6 (1.000) performance at the charity stripe. Clark also finished with five rebounds, an assist, and five steals.
• Junior guard JoHann Vinson (Philadelphia, Pa.) supported with 21 points, four rebounds, four assists.
• Freshman guard D.J. Johnson (Norristown, Pa.) was a factor as well with 16 points, a rebound, two assists, and a steal.

Gwynedd Mercy University continues their AEC schedule on Wednesday, January 18, when they visit Neumann University for a 8:00 p.m. tip-off.