Emmitsburg, Md. (January 16, 2008)--Defense
carried Mount St. Mary's to a 56-44 win over Saint Francis (Pa.) in
Northeast Conference action at Knott Arena on Wednesday night. The
Mount held the Red Flash to 28.0 percent shooting in the game to
snap a three-game losing streak.
Leading 35-34 with 13:07 left in the game, the Mount went on a
15-to-3 run over the next 8:59 to take control of the game. The
key to the run was the rebounding of junior post players Markus
Mitchell and Sam Atupem. The duo combined for 11 points and seven
rebounds, six on the offensive glass, during the decisive run. At
one point, the Mount grabbed 13 straight rebounds in the game.
"Markus and Sam were really active on the
boards and we needed that tonight," said Mount St. Mary's head
coach Milan Brown. "We were active on the defensive end and that
transferred to the offensive end."
Mitchell finished the game with nine
points and seven rebounds while Atupem added nine points and six
boards for the Mount. Senior Chris Vann paced the Mountaineers
(8-9, 4-2 NEC) with 12 points while Kelly Beidler added eight
points and three blocks off the bench.
Chris Berry scored 13 of his 15 points in
the first half to pace the Red Flash, which trailed 25-22 at the
break. Berry added 10 rebounds to finish with a double-double.
Devin Sweetney went 10-for-11 from the foul line en route to a
game-high 16 points in the contest.
Saint Francis, which has lost eight
straight games, was held to 14-of-50 (.280) shooting in the game,
including 6-of-27 (.222) in the second half. The Red Flash (3-14,
1-5 NEC) were 2-of-16 (.125) from three-point range in the
contest.
The Mount shot 50.0 percent in the second
half and was 22-of-48 (.458) from the field in the game. After
being outrebounded by eight in the first half, Mount St. Mary's
held a 21-to-15 advantage on the backboards in the second half,
including 13 second chance points off 12 offensive rebound.
The Mount returns to action on Saturday,
January 19, at home against Sacred Heart. Tip-off is set for 7:00
p.m. at Knott Arena.
