CARLISLE, Pa. - The Dickinson men's basketball team held their own against one of the top teams in the Centennial Conference for the first 20 minutes taking a 32-29 edge into the break. However, the Red and White were limited just 7-of-27 from the floor over the final half to allow the visiting Gettysburg College Bullets to leave the Kline Center with a 66-53 win on Tuesday night.
The home side began the game strong with
Isaiah Edmond,
Nate Ogbu and
David Petrusev making it 6-1 inside the first three minutes. A jumper from Jordan Stafford a minute later started a 6-2 away push ending with two on the stripe from Aidan Mess to trim the gap to one 8-7.
Andrew Gostovich,
Skyler Venezia and Edmond spent the ensuing couple of minutes holding the visitors at-bay at 15-14. Ryan McKeon stuck a jumper with 9:35 off the clock to give the Bullets their first lead of the evening, but
Anthony Goeb, Petrusev and Venezia had the response for the Devils to reclaim a slim 23-22 with just under six minutes left. After another McKeon bucket pushed it to 24-23 GC, five points from Venezia along with a paint basket by Ogbu opened the DC advantage to six (30-24). Gettysburg collected five of the remaining seven points in the period all thanks to Antonello Baggi, while Ogbu cashed in one final time to set the 32-29 Devils lead at half.
Unfortunately for Dickinson they were unable to ride the momentum into the second-half as the trio of Nate Williams, McKeon and Stafford embarked on a 14-2 outburst over the first five minutes to take a 43-34 lead. Gostovich and Ogbu provided some offense for the Devils (46-38), before the Bullets nabbed six straight for the 52-38 advantage with under ten minutes left. Triples for Akim Joseph and Baggi, coupled with points by Carl Schaller and Mess made it 62-43 at the 14:42 mark. A
Matt Mahoney three kicked off a 10-4 DC run to end the game as
Tyler Lawrence and Goeb also contributed for the Red and White, but it would not be enough as Gettysburg held on for the 66-53 win.
Red Devil Leaders
Points - Ogbu (14), Venezia (11)
Assists - Edmond, Goeb and Petrusev (2)
Rebounds - Ogbu (10), Petrusev (6)
Bullet Leaders
Points - Williams (14), Stafford (13), Joseph (11), McKeon (10)
Assists - Joseph (3), McKeon and Schaller (2)
Rebounds - Joseph (12), Williams (9)
Postseason Outlook
Dickinson now faces an uphill battle to make the postseason trailing both Muhlenberg and Ursinus for the final spot by two games with three to go. The Devils have already split with Muhlenberg and will host the Bears on the final day of the regular season.
Next on the Court
Dickinson (8-14, 5-10 Centennial) will attempt to begin their climb on Saturday afternoon at 4pm in Chestertown, Maryland against the Shoremen of Washington College in conference action.
