COLCHESTER, Vt. – Freshman forward
Ryan Peterson (Wethersfield, CT/St. Thomas More) set a new personal best with 27 points on Tuesday as the Pace University men's basketball team dropped an 81-73 decision at Saint Michael's College in Northeast-10 Conference action at the Vincent C. Ross Sports Center.
Peterson dropped 16 points in the first half after sinking 4-of-5 three-pointers and 6-of-7 shots from the field. He slowed down in the second half, but still managed to net 11 more on 5-of-11 shooting. He also led the team with eight rebounds in the game.
The Setters found themselves in a deep hole early on, as Saint Michael's ran out to a 12-2 lead across the first five minutes of the game. A timeout lit the team on fire, as the Setters went on a 12-2 run of their own to tie the game just five minutes later. Peterson hit three straight triples during this stretch.
Greg Grippo kept the Puruple Knights on top with a three to halt the run, but Peterson responded with a jumper to make it a one-point game. Sophomore guard
Bryan Rivers (West Windsor, NJ/Peddie School) hit a jumper the next time down the court to put Pace in the lead, but Levi Holmes III came right back with a three to give the home team the advantage.
Rivers' score kicked off a stretch of seven straight successful shots for both teams, resulting in a 24-24 stalemate with 6:48 to play. The Purple Knights finally missed a shot, but Matt Bonds was there to clean it up. Rivers responded with another two to tie it once again.
Senior guard
Shelton Mickell (Queens, NY/Cardozo / Central Connecticut State) scored five straight for the Settesr to give them a 31-28 edge as halftime drew near, but Will Davis ended a two-minute drought for the Purple Knights with a three to tie it back up. The teams went back-and-forth with threes in the final two minutes of the half, leaving the game tied, 37-37, heading into the break.
The Purple Knights opened up the half with a 10-2 run to take an eight-point lead. Peterson stayed hot with another three to get within five, then Mickell drained a longball of his own to make it a two-point game. Five-straight points for Saint Michael's put Pace in a seven-point hole again, but they kept the game within reach.
Rivers made two chances from the charity stripe with 9:03 to play to get back within four at 58-54. The home team then went on an 11-2 run that included seven free throws to make it a 13-point game. That was the largest lead of the game, but the Setters were unable to pull it back within reach, leading to the eight-point loss.
Mickell added 20 points and six boards for the Setters on Tuesday. Rivers tallied 13 points and five rebounds.
Matt Bonds netted 15 of his team-high 21 points in the second half of Tuesday's game to lead the Purple Knights. He finished with a double-double after pulling down a game-best 15 boards. Zaire Williams was close behind with 18 points, as well as a game-high seven helpers.
The Setters did not turn the ball over once in the first half, and finished with just seven in the game, resulting in a 16-8 edge in points-off-turnovers. 15 offensive boards also led to a 13-4 lead in second-chance points.
The Setters will hit the road once again this weekend, as they will take on Stonehill College in NE-10 action in North Easton, Mass. on Saturday, Jan. 16. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. immediately following the women's basketball matchup between the Setters and Skyhawks.
For all information regarding Pace University men's basketball log on to
www.PaceUAthletics.com and follow Pace men's basketball on Twitter (
@PaceMBB).
