COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. - The men's basketball team looked to build on the momentum from Thursday night's overtime road win over McDaniel College on Saturday afternoon with a visit to Ursinus College. Unfortunately, for the Red and White double-digit efforts by both
Martin Mann and
Brandon Wiercinski were not enough as the Bears left Helfferich Hall with a 70-61 conference win.
DC was flying early as they took a 6-0 lead inside the first four minutes with a triple by
Isaiah Edmond and three points from Mann. A
Luke Spellman trey was the only bucket for the visitors during a 9-3 home push to draw even at 9-9. Another three-ball by Spellman gave the Devils the lead back at 12-9, before Beau Everett and Trevor Wall tallied four straight making it 13-12 UC with 11:17 remaining. Dickinson continued their hot shooting from long-range as
Anthony Goeb knocked one down, however, two free throws by Ryan Hughes kicked off an 8-2 Bears run with the only DC points coming from Mann to give the hosts a 21-17 edge with 11:43 off the clock. Five of the next six went the way of the Red and White with
Randy Shephard finishing off a nice pass from
Andrew Gostovich and Wiercinski cashing in from downtown to knot things back up at 22-22. Once again though Ursinus had an answer as an Edmond layup were the only Devils points during an 8-2 run to make it 30-24 with two minutes left. Dickinson outscored the Bears 5-4 down the stretch with Edmond and Wiercinski supplying the offense to close within 34-29 at the break.
Cole Grubbs, Hughes and Wall were strong early for the home side to start the second period leading a 9-2 push to grab a double-digit cushion at 43-31 at the 3:11 mark. A free throw by Goeb stopped the charge for a second, but then UC responded with seven in a row to extend the margin to 50-32. The Devils tried to fight back as a Mann dunk sparked a 9-2 DC gallop with buckets from Shephard and Wiercinski pulling the Red and White within 52-41 still with ten minutes remaining. Over the next three minutes Dickinson continued to chip away with
Aaron Bailey, Gostovich, Mann and Wiercinski cutting the deficit down to 56-50 with 13:32 off the clock. Jumpers from Mohamed Toure and Hughes helped the Bears push the lead back over ten at 62-51 still with 3:30 to play. DC then fought back with Bailey, Gostovich and Mann leading a 10-3 run cutting the margin to just four 65-61. Unfortunately, Ursinus ended the game by scoring the final five points to set the 70-61 result.
Red Devil Leaders
Points - Mann (18), Wiercinski (11), Edmond (8)
Rebounds - Gostovich (13), Wiercinski (6), Mann (5)
Assists - Shephard (4), Bailey and Edmond (3)
Bear Leaders
Points - Hughes (20), Wall (16), Toure (13)
Rebounds - Grubbs (7), Hughes (5)
Assists - Hughes (5)
Next on the Court
Dickinson (4-15, 2-10 Centennial) returns to action on Wednesday night at 8pm when the Red and White host Muhlenberg College in Centennial Conference action.
