Eastern University Men's Basketball battled back with a 25-8 run over the last ten and a half minutes of the game to earn a hard-fought 67-64 win at Gwynedd-Mercy College. Matt Flanagan led the way for the Eagles with a game-high 18 points.
The first half saw the lead change hands several times, as the Eagles connected on five of eight three pointers, but 14 turnovers gave the Griffins more chances at the basket, and Gwynedd matched their biggest lead of the half on a David Smith dunk just seconds before the break. Matt Malloy hit all three of his first half shots for seven points and Flanagan hit a pair of threes for eight points. Jack Forth scored twelve points and Lemeire Talley scored ten to lead the hosts.
The second half began with the Eagles looking to take charge of the game. After an exchange of points to open the period, the Eagles jumped to to a 9-0 run capped by a Flanagan three with just under seventeen minutes to play in the game.
At that point things started to go very wrong for the visitors. The Eagles managed just a single made free throw over the next six and a half minutes as the Griffins seized the opportunity to forge a 12 point lead with nine and a half minutes to play. A monster tip-dunk from Smith sparked the run for Gwynedd.
The intensity of the game put both teams in the bonus early, and both teams were called for intentional fouls in transition. The Eagles, however, struggled from the foul line for the better part of the second half and failed to capitalize on Gwynedd's foul trouble. With the Eastern attack sputtering and the Griffins looking like they could get whatever shot they wanted, the game looked all but over with ten minutes to play.
The Eagles, however, responded with an 11-0 run over a two minute period to change the momentum of the game completely. Junior post Daryl Leegwater got things started with a rebound at the defensive end. he then stuck home a put-back on a Malloy miss for a three point play.
First year guard Derek Wright then scored in the lane to cut the deficit to 7 points. Jason Reels then scored six straight points to bring the Eagles to within one. After another inside basket from Smith to snap the run and a jumper from Talley to increase the Griffin advantage to five, the Eagles responded with another run.
Wright snuck inside for a lay-up off a pass from Malloy, and then Flanagan hit his fourth trey of the game to tie the game at 58. After a Haven Wroten basket gave the Griffins the lead for the last time, Flanagan connected on two of three free throws to again tie the game. The Eagles finally took the lead for good on a Mike Johnson lay-up from Reels with a minute and a half to play.
The Griffins' chance to tie at the other end was turned away by huge blocked shot from Johnson. Reels then bumped the Eastern advantage to four on a put-back basket with thirty-four seconds to play. Reels finished the evening with thirteen points and two key steals. Wright, forced to handle point guard duties down the stretch, performed well with seven points, six rebounds, and a pair of assists.
Eastern Head Coach Matt Nadelhoffer said of the game, "This was huge for us. We had a couple really tough breaks go against us early in the second half, and the game was not played at a tempo we like to play, but we ground out a win. The guys refused to quit, and that bodes well for us as we work toward the rest of the season."
The coaching staff pointed to the play of Wright and the energy Leegwater brought to the table in the second half as important factors in the win. The Eagles shot 7-14 from behind the arc, but made just 10-20 from the foul line.
Eastern returns to PAC action Monday night with a critical home contest against Neumann College. That game will have live audio through the PAC website.
