WORCESTER, Mass. – The entire starting five for the Pace University men's basketball team scored in double-digits as the Setters rolled to a 75-61 victory at Assumption College in Friday's Northeast-10 Conference matchup at the Laska Gymnasium. The Setters jump to 8-12 overall and 5-7 in NE-10 games with the win, while the Greyhounds drop to 6-11 on the year and 2-10 against the conference.
Senior guard
Shelton Mickell (Queens, NY/Cardozo / Central Connecticut State) led the way with 20 points on the evening, his second straight 20-point performance, and fourth in the last five games. Freshman forward
Ryan Peterson (Wethersfield, CT/St. Thomas More), freshman guard
Paton Gibbs (Saugerties, NY/Saugerties) and junior forward
Austin Mofunanya (Englewood, NJ/Dwight Morrow / Lincoln College of NE) each tallied 12 points, while sophomore guard
Bryan Rivers (West Windsor, NJ/Peddie School) picked up 11 to complete the starting lineup.
Both teams were strong from the field in the opening half, trading shots back-and-forth and exchanging the lead 13 times, leading to a 35-34 halftime score in favor of the Setters. Pace held the largest lead of half at just four points. Gibbs and Rivers held the team's halftime lead with nine points apiece. Gibbs, making just his second start, hit 3-of-4 threes in the half.
Mickell and Mofunanya fueled the Setters to a big run to open the second frame. They combined to score Pace's first 14 points after the break, leading the Setters to an 18-3 run that left them up, 55-40. The Greyhounds turned things around and scored 11-of-13 points to get back within six at the 7:19 mark. Later in the frame, the lead grew back into double-digits when Gibbs sank another three, giving the Setters a 64-53 advantage. Pace kept up the heat late in the game, holding on for the 14-point win on the road.
Rivers pulled down a team-high nine rebounds in the game, and matched Mickell with a team-leading four assists. Rivers also added four steals. Peterson grabbed seven boards and handed out three helpers, while Gibbs snagged six rebounds. Freshman guard
Luke McLaughlin (Blauvelt, NY/Tappan Zee) added six points and five boards off the bench.
The Setters shot 48.4 percent (30-of-62) in the game, and were greatly helped by 9-of-10 (90 percent) shooting from the free-throw line. The Greyhounds shot 48 percent in the opening frame to keep up with the Setters, but Pace held their hosts down to 31 percent (9-of-29) from the field in the second stanza.
Tre Owens led the Greyhounds with 14 points, while Justin Tuckson came off the bench to score 12. Kamali Bey also added 10 points.
After a big win on the road, the Setters return home on Tuesday, Jan. 26, to take on Franklin Pierce University in another NE-10 matchup. The game is set to tip off at 7:30 p.m. in the Goldstein Fitness Center.
For all information regarding Pace University men's basketball log on to
www.PaceUAthletics.com and follow Pace men's basketball on Twitter (
@PaceMBB).
