Box
Score
Santurce, P.R. - Universidad Metropolitana was
no match for the St. Mary's College of Maryland men's basketball
team as the Seahawks (8-2) closed out the Puerto Rico Division III
Classic with a commanding 71-51 triumph over Metropolitana at
Universidad del Sagrado Corazon Sunday evening.
Senior guard Camontae Griffin (Baltimore,
Md./Dunbar) was the lone Seahawk in double digits as
Griffin tallied a game-high 21 points on 9-of-16
shooting along with three rebounds and three assists. Junior
guard Alex Franz (Catonsville, Md./Cardinal
Gibbons) and sophomore forward Brian Grashof
(Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown West) each added nine points while
Franz and freshman guard Chris
Hutchinson (Baltimore, Md./New Town) hauled in a game-best
six caroms apiece.
St. Mary's pressure defense kept Metropolitana off balance in
all aspects of the game as UMET shot a mere 29.5% from the floor,
including a dismal 16.7% from three-point land. Metropolitana
was overpowered on the boards as well as the Seahawks posted a
resounding 55-34 advantage in rebounding. In addition, the
Seahawks ruled the key, pouring in 28 points in the paint.
SMCM controlled the contest from the opening tip-off,
establishing a double-figure margin at the 10:32-minute mark as
Griffin snapped a two-minute scoring drought for
both sides with a three-point play. Metropolitana never
staked a claim in the entire game, tying the score just once at
19:07 as Wesley Gonzalez's layup made it
2-2. The Seahawks rolled to a 34-19 halftime lead.
Jonathan Perez paced UMET with 10 points and a
game-best five steals while Luis Garcia and
Daniel Polanco chipped in eight points and six
boards each.
Eighteen bench points in the second half helped St. Mary's more
than double its halftime advantage as the Seahawks boasted a 64-30
margin with 8:07 remaining on a layup by junior guard Joe
Smith (College Park, Md./DeMatha Catholic).
Metropolitana forged a 21-7 run to close out the game and lessen
the sting of a 71-51 loss.
St. Mary's will hit the court again on December 28 as the
Seahawks face Averett University at The Car Coop/Weenie Miller
Memorial Holiday Hoops hosted by Hampden-Sydney College in
Virginia. Tip-off is set for 7:00 pm.
