Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content
Gary Grant dribbling vs. Catholic (11.14.21)
Bill Wood
Gary Grant dribbling vs. Catholic (11.14.21)
73
Winner St. Mary's (Md.) SMCM 1-4, 1-0
54
Penn State Berks PSBM 0-5, 0-1
Winner
St. Mary's (Md.) SMCM
1-4, 1-0
73
Final
54
Penn State Berks PSBM
0-5, 0-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
St. Mary's (Md.) SMCM 36 37 73
Penn State Berks PSBM 29 25 54

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Nairem Moran

Grant, Crawford Star as St. Mary’s College Men’s Basketball Earns First Win of Season

READING, Pa. – The St. Mary's College of Maryland men's basketball team tipped off their inaugural season in the United East Conference in style Friday evening, posting their first win of the 2021-22 campaign. St. Mary's College (1-4, 1-0 UEC) picked up a 73-54 conference win over the host Penn State Berks Nittany Lions (0-5, 0-1 UEC) as sophomore forward Gary Grant (Washington, D.C./Thomas Stone [Md.]) and first-year guard Elijah Crawford (Oxon Hill, Md./Potomac) each dropped 17 points.
 
How It Happened
  • The two sides battled back and forth in the first four minutes of the game before St. Mary's College put together a 16-8 run over the next six minutes for a 23-17 lead halfway through the half. Senior forward Cameron Rucker (Silver Spring, Md./Springbrook) sparked the run with an old-fashioned three-point play and finished with 10 points in the run.
  • A quick 7-0 spurt by the Nittany Lions briefly returned the advantage in their favor but it was short-lived as the Seahawks closed out the first half on a 13-5 run, including four points each from Crawford and senior guard Seth Jones (Baltimore, Md./Baltimore Poly Tech), to lead 36-29 at halftime.
  • Penn State Berks opened the second half strong, outscoring the visitors, 12-7, in the first eight minutes to close the gap to 43-41.
  • It was St. Mary's College the rest of the way as the Seahawks rolled with an 8-0 spurt to build a double-digit margin and never look back.
  • The Seahawks' biggest lead of the game was a 21-point advantage with 16 seconds left in the game as Grant finished off an assist from first-year guard Olumide Lewis (Greenbelt, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt) with a layup.
 
Inside the Box Score
  • St. Mary's College made the most of its opportunities at the free throw line as the Nittany Lions sent them to the line 29 times and the Seahawks went 25-of-29 for a season-high 86.2-percent.
  • The Seahawks tallied 42 points in the paint as well as 31 points off 21 Penn State Berks turnovers to lock up their first win of the season and first-ever United East win.
  • Grant finished a rebound shy of a double-double as he led St. Mary's College with season-highs of 17 points and nine boards while adding season-bests of six field goals made, five free throws made, and two assists.
  • Crawford also had a solid outing for the Seahawks with career-bests of 17 points, nine free throws made, five blocks, and four field goals made. He added a season-high five caroms as well.
  • Rucker and junior guard Jordan Goodwin (Baltimore, Md./Milford Mill) scored in double digits as well with 12 and 10, respectively. Additionally, Goodwin contributed six rebounds and four steals.
  • St. Mary's College put up a wall on the perimeter, limiting the Nittany Lions to 23.1-percent (6-26) from downtown.
  • Jared Houck led all scorers with 20 points while Jeff Lorah notched 14 as Penn State Berks continues to search for its first win of the season.
 
Up Next for the Seahawks
  • Dec. 4 at Penn College (1-5, 1-0 UEC) – Williamsport, Pa. – 1:00 p.m.
 
Facebook: StMarysAthletics | Instagram: @smcseahawks, @seahawksmbb
Twitter: @smcseahawks, @SMCM_MBB | Hashtags: #GoSeahawks #SeahawkPROUD #SweepTheSheds
 
Print Friendly Version