SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Freshman forward
Ryan Peterson (Wethersfield, CT/St. Thomas More) registered his third double-double of the season, but it was not enough as the Pace University men's basketball team fell to Le Moyne College, 64-56, in Northeast-10 Conference action at Ted Grant Court Tuesday evening. The Setters drop to 9-15 overall and 6-10 in NE-10 play, while the Dolphins improve to 7-15 on the year and 5-12 in conference play.
Peterson made four three-pointers en route to a 15-point evening. He also set a new personal best with 11 rebounds on Tuesday.
The Setters and Dolphins went back-and-forth early on in Tuesday's matchup, but a 12-1 run for Le Moyne gave the home team a 21-12 advantage with just under seven minutes to play in the first. Down seven in the final minute, senior guard
Shelton Mickell (Queens, NY/Cardozo / Central Connecticut State) put in a layup with five seconds left to get within five. The Dolphins tried to rush the ball in for one last heave, but sophomore guard
Bryan Rivers (West Windsor, NJ/Peddie School) made a heads-up play, stealing the inbound and laying it in to cut the deficit to 27-24 heading into the locker room.
Pace opened the second frame with a 9-3 run, capped off by a steal and a fast break for Rivers, to take a 33-30 lead in the first two minutes. Le Moyne scored the next five, but Peterson drained a trey to take the lead right back. Qwadere Lovell made 3-of-4 free throws after going to the line in back-to-back possessions, but Peterson once again hit a big three to put Pace on top.
Mickell made a tough layup at the 11:35 mark, and then sophomore forward
Evan Gordinier (Monmouth Beach, NJ/Christian Brothers Academy) nailed a long ball from the corner to give the Setters a 44-38 edge. The Dolphins fought back to get within one, but Rivers finished a layup to keep the lead at three for the Setters.
Four straight points gave Le Moyne the lead once again, but Mickell drew a foul, making both chances to grab the lead back. Daniel Kaigler found space to dunk for Le Moyne on the next play, but Mickell silenced the crowd with a rainbow three to go up by two.
Le Moyne's Anthony Richards came back down the court and made a three of his own to put the home team up, 52-51. On the Dolphins' next trip down the court, Richards hit another one from beyond-the-arc to put Le Moyne up by four.
With 2:57 to play, Rivers hit a pair of foul shots to get the Setters within two points. Lovell came back with a three for the Dolphins, but the Setters got back within a possession after Peterson made two chances from the charity stripe. After the Dolphins' lead stretched back to five, the Setters were forced to foul. Lovell made 3-of-4 chances down the stretch to keep Le Moyne on top until the buzzer sounded.
Rivers finished up with 14 points, six boards and three steals on the evening. Mickell contributed 13 points, and four different Setters dished out two assists apiece.
Le Moyne's Eriq Jenkins matched Peterson for a game-high 15 points. He also led the Dolphins with eight rebounds. Lovell added 13 points and a game-best five assists.
The Setters will look to bounce back when they return home on Saturday, Feb. 13, to host American International College in another NE-10 contest at the Goldstein Fitness Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
