January 7, 2008

Boxscore

BELMONT, N.C.—Freshman guard Richard Barbee (Virginia Beach, Va.) broke a 59-59 tie with a fast-break layup while being fouled and converted on the old-fashion three-point play with 6.9 seconds left in the game to lead host Belmont Abbey College past visiting St. Andrews Presbyterian College, 62-59, in Conference Carolinas men’s basketball action on Monday night in the Wheeler Center.

Barbee scored a team-high 19 points including 12-of-14 made free throws for the Crusaders, who improved to 5-6 overall and 4-1 in the league. Senior Bradley Hippolyte (Brooklyn, N.Y.) scored a game-high 20 points for the Knights (2-9, 1-3), who took their first loss of 2008. SAPC was attempting to start the New Year with three wins in just five days.

The Abbey scored the first six points of the contest and a couple minutes later Barbee extended the hosts advantage to double digits for the first time, 18-8, at the 12:40 time marker by connecting on two free throws.

A senior Arturs Papans (Riga, Latvia) breakaway layup on junior Deonte Murphy (Cleveland, Ohio) sixth assist of the half gave BAC its largest lead of the period, 29-18, but the Crusaders would be held scoreless for the final five minutes. A 6-0 SAPC run that included five points from Hippolyle cut the halftime deficit to 29-24.

Hippolyte and Barbee lead their respective teams into the locker room with eight points apiece. St. Andrews held a 21-18 edge on the glass while taking advantage of 11 Abbey fouls by converting 11-of-15 free throws in the first half. However, the Knights only made 25.0-percent (6-for-24) of their field goals compared to 37.9% (11-for-29) by the Crusaders.

The Abbey once again held an 11-point lead (47-36) with 12:38 remaining but St. Andrews battled back with a 9-0 run over the next three minutes. Sophomore Colby Poe (Bennettsville, S.C.) scored the final five points of the rally go get the Knights within two at 47-45.

The Crusaders bounced right back regaining a 10-point cushion (55-45) on a 8-0 run highlighted by a senior Ric Marczenko (Victoria, Australia) reverse layup. In a half full of miniature runs SAPC responded right back with their own 8-0 run. A lay-in by Hippolyte on a nice feed from senior Jeff Worley (Charlotte, N.C.) got the deficit to two, 55-53, with exactly three minutes left.

On the ensuing possession Hippolyle drove to the hole for another layup to tie the game for the first time in the second half, 55-55, with 2:28 showing on the clock. The two squads traded the next four points before SAPC took its first lead of the night with 66 second left on a made pull-up, baseline jumper by junior Joseph Gripper (Charlotte, N.C.). Marczenko then evened the score at 59-59 with two made free throws with 51.3 second showing.

Gripper’s attempt to give the Knights another lead with a jumper in the paint just missed and with the loose ball finding its way to the perimeter setting up the game-winning fast break winner by Barbee. Junior Jonathan Jackson (Ahoskie, N.C.) picked up the crucial rebound and assisted Barbee on the layup. Worley had a good look at tying the game at the buzzer and sending the game to overtime but the three-pointer went just long.

Both teams shot 36-percent from the field with SAPC holding a 39-31 edge on the boards.

Gripper scored nine of his 14 points in the second half while leading the Knights with eight rebounds. Poe added nine points.

Marczenko registered a double-double for the Crusaders with 13 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Murphy finished with nine assists and four steals while sophomore Chad Patus (Welland, Ontario, Canada) chipped in with 11 points.

St. Andrews next hosts Conference Carolinas rival and No. 22 nationally ranked Mount Olive College on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. while Belmont Abbey entertains league foe and defending National Champion Barton College at the same time.