GARDEN CITY, N.Y.- Keon Williams (Hackensack, NJ/Hackensack/Iona College) (Hackensack, NJ/Hackensack/Iona College) posted a double-double for the Setters as they came up just shy of the win over Adelphi, 56-50. Pace stands at 13-11 overall and 11-9 in the NE-10 as they fall into a three-way tie for fifth place. Adelphi advances to 18-6 overall and 15-5 and holds first place in the conference.
The Panthers came out strong in the first half, taking their largest lead of the game four minutes in by 11 points at 19-8. The Setters slowly chipped away and pulled to within four points at 31-27 with 46 seconds to go in the half on two free-throws by Kevin Clark (Dunmore, PA/Dunmore/St. Johns University) (Dunmore, PA/Dunmore/St. Johns University). Adelphi got a late basket as they took a 33-27 lead into halftime.
Pace and Adelphi tied the score up twice in the second half in an intense battle for the lead. The last tie came with 8:28 to go in the game at 42-42. The Panthers pulled ahead 47-43 before a layup by Kai Smith (Upper Marlboro, MD/St. Mary's Ryken) (Upper Marlboro, MD/St. Mary's Ryken) brought the Setters back to within two points. The Panthers used a 6-0 burst to bump their lead to eight points with 2:31 to play in the game but a three pointer by Clark brought the Setters back to within five with 1:27 on the clock. With Pace in the bonus, the Panthers hit 3-of-5 at the line in the final 1:11 to push the lead back to eight points as the Setters came up short in the game.
Three players finished in double digits for the Panthers. Chris Ranglin scored 14 points, four rebounds and three steals while Bradley Simpson finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and two assists. Robert Johnson led the boards for Adelphi with ten while adding seven points, three assists and three steals.
Williams finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds while Clark put up 12 points for Pace. Jonathan Merceus (Union, NJ/Union) (Union, NJ/Union) pulled nine rebounds and seven points. Denzel Primus-Devonish (Riverdale, MD/St. John's College) (Riverdale, MD/St. John's College), Justin Alston (Bronx, NY/St. Raymond) and Smith had six points apiece. Primus-Devonish contributed three assists, two rebounds and Alston added seven rebounds and two assists.
The Setters set out to finish the regular season at Assumption at 3:30 pm February 18 and at Le Moyne February 20 at 7:30 pm.
