YORK, Pa. – The Ursinus Men's Basketball team used a strong start to knock off previously unbeaten York 80-70 on Saturday afternoon to wrap up the York Spartan Classic.
 
 
Sophomore Jamie Murphy completed a standout showing over the tournament by registering a season-high 24 points on 10-of-17 shooting and nearly completed a double-double with nine rebounds plus adding three steals. Murphy averaged 23.5 points per game for the Bears over the weekend in York and continues to pace the team in points per game. Senior Mohamed Toure also nearly had a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds while classmate Nick Nocito totaled 11 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists.
 
 
The Bears knocked down a pair of three-pointers to open the game and led 6-3 early before the Spartans used a 9-2 run to go up 12-8 at the 14:14-mark of the first quarter. York stretched its lead to 18-13 at the 9:56-mark, but the Bears came alive as they scored 13 straight points to go up 26-18 with 5:48 left in the first half. York cut the lead down to 27-22 until the Bears responded with seven straight points to go up 34-22 with 2:48 left in the first half. Ursinus went up by as many as 15 points at 39-24 and held a 39-27 advantage into halftime.
 
 
Ursinus picked up where they left off to start the second half as they opened with a 7-2 burst to go up 46-29 at the 16:47-mark. York used an 11-3 run to make it a 49-40 game with 12:19 left in the second half, but the Bears cooled off the run with four straight points to go up 53-40 less than a minute later. The Spartans fought back with a 16-7 run to get within four points at 60-56 with 6:06 left in regulation before the Bears pulled back ahead by 10 points at 70-60 with 2:14 left in regulation behind five points from Murphy. Ursinus maintained their advantage and stretched their lead out to 14 points with 46 seconds left in the game to preserve the win.
 
 
The Bears shot 45.6 percent (26-of-57) from the field and 30.4 percent (7-of-23) from three-point range. Ursinus went just 60 percent (21-of-35) from the free throw line and held a slight 44-41 rebounding advantage while scoring 20 points off 15 Spartans turnovers. Meanwhile, the Spartans shot 37.5 percent (24-of-64) from the field and 27.8 percent (10-of-36) from three-point range. York went 12-of-17 (70.6%) from the free throw line as well.
 
 
Ursinus breaks for Christmas before returning to action on Monday, December 29^th as they will take on Hunter College in the opening round of the Moravian Steel Club Classic at 6:30 p.m.