SYRACUSE, N.Y.-The Setters were unable to turn the tables in the last game of the regular season as they lost to the Dolphins of Le Moyne College, 69-59. The Setters finish the season at 13-13 overall and 11-11 in the Northeast-10 Conference. Le Moyne finishes at 12-14 overall and 8-14 in conference play. Pace is currently ranked eighth in the conference but will find out the final NE-10 rankings and playoff scenario as determined by the results of the other conference games on Tuesday.
Despite the loss, Jonathan Merceus (Union, NJ/Union) (Union, NJ/Union) recorded his first double-double of the year with 18 points and 11 rebounds while Kevin Clark (Dunmore, PA/Dunmore/St. Johns University) (Dunmore, PA/Dunmore/St. Johns University) also recorded 18 points for the Setters. Justin Alston (Bronx, NY/St. Raymond) (Bronx, NY/St. Raymond) recorded his 100th collegiate three-pointer which ranks him tied for 18th in the all-time three pointer club for Pace. He finished with nine points, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals. Denzel Primus-Devonish (Riverdale, MD/St. John's College) (Riverdale, MD/St. John's College) contributed four assists and David Eismeier (Burke, VA/Bishop O'Connell) added three steals.
Jim Janson recorded a double-double for Le Moyne with 15 points and 18 rebounds while three of his teammates also scored in double digits to aid in the win. Brian Zapisek and Derrek Tartt both contributed 12 points apiece while Tartt also grabbed seven rebounds. Nate Champion finished with 11 points while James Cormier added five assists.
The game started off even keeled early in the first half with three tied scores coming within the first 12 minutes before Le Moyne went on a 7-0 run to put the Dolphins up 22-15. The Setters front court got into foul trouble early, prompting a heavier than normal rotation. The Dolphins went up by as much as 13 points before Merceus made a layup to go into half 20, 31.
Two triples, scored by Primus-Devonish and Clark, and then another layup from Primus-Devonish brought the Setters within five at the 17:37 mark. The Dolphins went on a 9-0 run over the next three minutes to put them up 42-28. The Setters would chip away at that lead with the addition of three foul shots at 10:28 from Clark to bring the Setters within four. Le Moyne went up by as much as nine points over the next few minutes as Pace continued their effort in getting ahead. A layup from Merceus with 4:04 left in the game brought the Setters to 51-56 but were unable to lessen the point margin for the rest of the game. Pace sent Le Moyne to the line six times from the 3:13 mark to the final buzzer where they went 10 of 12 to solidify the win.
Pace shot 29.7% from the field, 20% from three-point range and 71.4% from the free-throw line. Le Moyne finished at 39.6% from the field, 27.8% from the outside and 68.8% from the line. Le Moyne out-rebounded Pace 51-36 and had 26 points in the paint to the Setters' 22. Pace had nine less turnovers and scored 24 points off of turnovers where Le Moyne only put up nine.
