WALTHAM, Mass. – The Pace University men's basketball team's historic 2021-22 season ended on Sunday night with a 96-84 overtime loss to top-seeded Bentley in the NCAA Regional semifinals. The Setters wrap up the year with a record of 20-10 to mark their most wins in a campaign since 2006-07.
Pace showed terrific resolve in battling back from a late deficit to force extra time.
Trailing by six with 90 seconds on the clock, the Setters tallied three consecutive steals and
Brandon Powell (Middletown, N.Y./Pine Bush) made six straight free throws to send the game to overtime at 80-80.
Following a sensational burst to end regulation, Pace ran out of gas in the extra period. Bentley scored the first eight points of overtime before ultimately outscoring the Setters by a 16-4 margin.
Pace's entire starting lineup scored in double figures against the 14
th-ranked Falcons.
Graduate guard
Austin Gilbertson (Etters, Pa./Trinity) led the way with 21 points in his final collegiate game. He also chipped in a team-high five assists while playing the entire 45 minutes.
Marc Dadika (Saddle Brook, N.J./Saint Mary's Rutherford) served as Pace's most efficient scorer thanks to 17 points on 6-for-9 shooting. He also nabbed 10 rebounds to register his second double-double of the season.
Brandon Powell (Middletown, N.Y./Pine Bush) notched a double-double of his own courtesy of 16 points and a team-high 11 rebounds. He also piled up a team-best five steals.
Brandon Jacobs (Cambria Heights, N.Y./Long Island Lutheran) and
Bryan Powell (Middletown, N.Y./Canterbury School) rounded out Pace's double-figure scorers with a combined 25 points.
The Blue and Gold's offense featured a standout performance from the free-throw line. Pace finished the game 20-of-23 from the charity stripe.
