COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Ursinus Men's Basketball team used timely baskets down the stretch to earn a 75-69 win over Washington College on Saturday afternoon in their Centennial Conference opener at Helfferich Hall.
With the win, the Bears improved to 8-5 overall and start Centennial Conference play 1-0 after earning their ninth straight win in the series over the Shoremen. Meanwhile, Washington College fell to 5-8 overall and start Centennial Conference play 0-1.
Senior
Marlin Wise led the Bears with a team-high 17 points behind going 7-of-9 from the field while recording four rebounds and three steals. Junior
Nick Nocito added 16 points, seven assists, and six rebounds while senior
Trevor Wall posted 11 points and four rebounds. Senior
Cole Grubbs recorded 12 rebounds along with eight points.
The teams traded baskets in the early part of the first half as the game stayed within one possession until the Bears went up 17-13 at the 12:02-mark following a layup from Nocito. The Shoremen used a 9-4 run to go up 22-21 at the 9:48-mark before an 8-1 burst from Ursinus left them up 29-23 with 6:40 left in the first half. Ursinus did not let its lead slip below three points the rest of the first half and they closed out on a 10-5 run to take a 43-35 lead into halftime.
The second half opened with the teams trading baskets once again until the Bears broke open and took their largest lead of the game at 56-44 with 13:29 left in the second half. The Shoremen continued to hang around as they worked the deficit back into single digits and made it a 60-56 game with 9:33 left in regulation following a 12-4 run. The Shoremen dug deeper and made it a one point game at 63-62 at the 4:41-mark to push the run out to 16-7. Ursinus went 7:25 without making a field goal until Nocito ended the drought with a jumper at the 3:26-mark. The Bears led 67-63 with just under two minutes left in regulation and Wise delivered the defining play of the game with a thunderous second chance dunk following a missed three-pointer that put Ursinus up 69-63. Wall followed with a steal and score and the Shoremen did not get any closer than six points the rest of the way.
The Bears shot 49.1 percent (28-of-57) from the field behind shooting 54.8 percent in the first half and just 22.2 percent (4-of-18) from three-point range. Ursinus went 15-of-23 (65.2%) from the free throw line and held a commanding 46-20 rebounding advantage that led to a 20-6 edge in second chance points. Meanwhile, the Shoremen shot 47.2 percent (25-of-53) from the field and 35 percent (7-of-20) from deep. Washington College went 12-of-19 (63.2%) from the free throw line and forced 18 Bears turnovers.
Ursinus returns to action on Wednesday, January 15th as they will travel to face Haverford at 6:00 p.m. to continue Centennial Conference play.
