PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – The Pace University men's basketball team, led by junior forward
Austin Mofunanya (Englewood, NJ/Dwight Morrow / Lincoln College of NE) Tuesday evening, turned in a valiant effort against the Northeast-10 Conference's top team, Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU), but a late rally by the Owls gave them a 74-69 victory over the Setters at the Goldstein Fitness Center. The loss eliminated the Setters from postseason contention.
Mofunanya was a force to be reckoned with for the Setters Tuesday evening, as he scored 15 points and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds. The double-double was his second in the past four games, and his third of the season.
Despite looking like the much stronger team, SCSU only took a three-point lead into halftime, 37-34. The Setters came out of the locker room like a new team for the second half, opening up on a quick 6-0 run, capped off by a lead-stealing three by freshman forward
Ryan Peterson (Wethersfield, CT/St. Thomas More), to go up, 40-37.
Later, SCSU's Michael Mallory made a layup to cut the Setters' lead to 44-41. Pace then scored seven straight points to take a 10-point edge over the conference's top team. Pace kept the Owls on their heels for most of the half, still leading by six with 9:04 to go after a layup by senior guard
Shelton Mickell (Queens, NY/Cardozo / Central Connecticut State). After this point, the Owls went on a six-point stretch to tie the game at 61.
The teams were once again tied at 63 before a free throw, followed later by a layup, gave the visitors a three-point advantage. Mickell then fired back with a rainbow three to tie the game at 66. SCSU's Desmond Williams, who led all scorers with 30 points on the evening, came back with a layup to give the Owls the lead once again. Mickell was then sent to the line with a chance to tie, but could only make the back end of his two opportunities, making it a 68-67 score in favor of SCSU.
Williams then got himself to the line, where he made both shots to make it a three-point game. Freshman forward
Luke McLaughlin (Blauvelt, NY/Tappan Zee) then managed to make a tough layup to get Pace within one once again with just 54 seconds left. After running the shot clock nearly down to zero, Williams missed a jumper, but SCSU's Joey Wallace snagged the rebound with 22 seconds left, forcing the Setters to foul.
Williams went to the line again, but missed the second shot to keep it a two-point game. However, SCSU grabbed another offensive board, and Pace was once again forced to foul. Mallory took two chances this time, but he too missed the second shot, and the Setters were finally able to get the ball, down by three with 16 seconds left. Mickell came down the court and did his best to make space, but his three caromed off the rim into the hands of Mallory, effectively ending the game.
Mickell led the Setters on Tuesday with 17 points, adding six rebounds and three assists. Peterson made four threes and finished with 15 points and eight boards. Sophomore guard
Bryan Rivers (West Windsor, NJ/Peddie School) dished out six assists and had two steals in the game. McLaughlin had the best game of his freshman campaign with 10 points and seven rebounds.
Williams added 11 rebounds to his 30 points to complete a double-double for the Owls. Mallory, the NE-10's leading scorer, finished with 15 points after scoring 13 in the second half.
The Setters held the nation's eighth-highest scoring team to 16.4 points below their average with a stellar defensive effort in Tuesday's loss. The Owls now earn the Southwest Division's top seed in the NE-10 Conference Tournament.
The Setters celebrated Senior Day prior to tip-off Tuesday evening. Senior
Shelton Mickell (Queens, NY/Cardozo / Central Connecticut State) was joined by his family on the court for the ceremony. The Setters also honored student assistant Connor Moriarty for his commitment to the team and the Athletic Department.
For all information regarding Pace University men's basketball log on to
www.PaceUAthletics.com and follow Pace men's basketball on Twitter (
@PaceMBB).
