PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – In a game that went down to the wire, a free throw from freshman Austin Gilbertson (Etters, PA/Trinity) with less than a second remaining in regulation lifted the Pace University men's basketball team to a 77-76 win over Holy Family College on Saturday afternoon. The win is the second in a row for the Setters, who improve their record to 4-9 on the season.

Inside the Numbers
*A well-rounded attack generated the scoring opportunities for the Blue and Gold, with three players reaching double figures in points. Sophomore Vinny Dalessandro (Levittown, PA/Conwell-Egan Catholic) led Pace with 15 points, scoring double digits for the second time in three contests.

*The freshmen duo of Gilbertson and Brandon Jacobs (Cambria Heights, NY/Long Island Lutheran) rounded out Pace's top scorers, combining for 25 points. Scoring 13, Gilbertson posted double digit points for the first time in three games. The 12 points from Jacobs continued his impressive freshman campaign, continuing to lead the team with 15.4 points per game. Jacobs has now scored an even 200 points on the year.

*The Setters posted a season-high rebound total with 45 boards, including 15 off the offensive glass. Gilbertson led Pace with three offensive rebounds, and matched Greg Poleon (Brooklyn, NY/Abraham Lincoln / Coffeyville CC)'s total of seven boards to co-lead the team. Poleon now leads the Blue and Gold with 79 total rebounds this season.

*Pace closed the game strong from beyond the arc, shooting 56 percent on long balls in the second half. Gilbertson and Jacobs each hit two three-pointers over the closing 20 minutes.

*The Setter defense registered four blocks and four steals against Holy Family. Ray Montilus (Union, NJ/Pope John XXII) was the leading defensive playmaker, recording a block, two steals, and four rebounds off the defensive glass. Pace limited the Tigers to 29 percent shooting from the field in the first half.

How it Happened
The opening half was controlled solely by Pace, who began the game on a 13-2 run over the first seven minutes. Holy Family brought the lead down to single digits on multiple occasions, but the Setters were able to fire back with scores of their own to maintain distance. Pace would expand its lead to as much as 15 in the half, leading 33-18 with five and a half minutes remaining. Holy Family began to shift momentum over the final five minutes, closing out the half on a 12-4 run to cut the Pace lead down to 37-30 heading into the second half.

The Setters would open the second half with a quick three-pointer from Montilus to re-establish the double-digit lead. Control would stay on Pace's side over the first 10 minutes of the half, building the lead up to 59-45.

With under 10 minutes to play, Holy Family began to chip away at the Pace lead. The Tigers started their comeback effort with a 7-2 run to pull to within nine with eight minutes remaining. Another 7-2 Tiger stretch a few minutes later cut the Pace lead down to 68-62 with five and a half left on the clock. Holy Family continued to make shots, eventually fighting back to a single-possession game at 74-71 with two minutes remaining.

The two teams would trade buckets over the next 90 seconds, giving Pace a 76-73 lead with under a minute remaining. The Tigers buried a three pointer to tie the game for the first time since the opening tip with 28 seconds left in regulation. On Pace's final possession, Gilbertson nabbed an offensive board and drew a foul on an attempted jumper with less than a second on the clock. The rookie would bury the first vital free throw as time expired following his second shot to give the Setters the 77-76 victory.

Up Next
The Setters will enjoy their winter break for two weeks before returning to action on Dec. 30. Pace wraps up non-conference play with a game at Molloy College at 2 p.m.