Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content
Official Site of Pace University Athletics | Pleasantville, N.Y.

Pace University Athletics

Men's Basketball

Men's Basketball Outlasts Felician in Overtime

Box Score

PLEASANTVILLE, NY- Four players scored in double figures with Denzel Primus-Devonish (Riverdale, MD/St. John's College) (Riverdale, MD/St. John's College) leading the way with 25 points, as the Setters outlasted the Golden Falcons of Felician College 93-88 in overtime. The Setters improve to 3-7 on the season, while the Golden Falcons falls to 4-7.

Felician jumped out to a 25-18 lead midway through the opening half. Pace ripped off the next seven points to pull even at 25 but the Golden Falcons answered, pulling ahead by 37-32 with 5:36 left in the half. Pace made their move, rallying with a 13-2 run to jump ahead.  Kai Smith (Upper Marlboro, MD/St. Mary's Ryken) (Upper Marlboro, MD/St. Mary's Ryken) book-ended the run with triples, while Jonathan Merceus (Union, NJ/Union) (Union, NJ/Union) hit three free throws as the Setters pulled ahead 45-39 with just over a minute to play in the half. Felician added a late basket but the Setters headed to halftime in the lead at 45-41.

Felician rallied to tie the score at 48 in the first two-plus minutes and the game remained close throughout regulation. The Golden Falcons led by as much as six points at the 16:42 mark but the second half saw seven lead changes and seven ties with the final tie coming at the 1:01 mark as Nick Jackson (Brooklyn, NY/Boys and Girls) (Brooklyn, NY/Boys and Girls) pulled the Setters even at 80. Both teams had opportunities in the final minute of play but each chance came up short and the game headed to an extra period.

The Setters took an early lead behind two buckets by Primus-Devonish but the Golden Falcons rallied to tie the score at 84 with 2:47 to play for the 14th and final tie of the game. Jamaal James (Brooklyn, NY/Brooklyn College Academy) (Brooklyn, NY/Brooklyn College Academy) put the Setters in the lead for good with a put-back lay-up and Primus-Devonish added a free throw and Smith hit a pair for an 89-84 lead with 1:32 to play.

The teams traded points in the final 30 seconds but the Setters iced the game as Ahmad George (Bowie, MD/Archbishop Carroll) and Primus-Devonish both went 2-for-2 in the waning seconds to hold off Felician.

For the Setters, Primus-Devonish led the way with 25 points, seven assists and a career-high six steals on 10-for-20 shooting. Merceus posted a double-double with 23 points and 12 rebounds, as he did his damage at the charity stripe, going 11-for-17. James also recorded a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Smith finished with 14 points, four rebounds and three steals.

The Setters are off until the calendar turns to 2014 where they will hit the road for a pair of games in Pennsylvania. Pace heads to Lincoln University on Thursday, January 2 for a 7 pm start time and will head to Philadelphia University two days later for 2 pm tip-off.  

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Nick Jackson

#24 Nick Jackson

Guard
6' 3"
Sophomore
Jonathan Merceus

#10 Jonathan Merceus

Forward
6' 6"
Senior
Jamaal James

#21 Jamaal James

Forward
6' 8"
Senior
Denzel Primus-Devonish

#1 Denzel Primus-Devonish

Guard
5' 10"
Senior
Kai Smith

#2 Kai Smith

Guard
6' 2"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Nick Jackson

#24 Nick Jackson

6' 3"
Sophomore
Guard
Jonathan Merceus

#10 Jonathan Merceus

6' 6"
Senior
Forward
Jamaal James

#21 Jamaal James

6' 8"
Senior
Forward
Denzel Primus-Devonish

#1 Denzel Primus-Devonish

5' 10"
Senior
Guard
Kai Smith

#2 Kai Smith

6' 2"
Senior
Guard