Boxscore
PIKE CREEK, Del. – The Goldey-Beacom College men's basketball team allowed a 30-point lead to dwindle down to 11 in the final eight-and-a-half minutes, but nevertheless, stayed perfect in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference at 5-0 and improved to 10-3 overall with an 86-75 win over conference newcomer, Concordia College (N.Y.) on Sat. afternoon at the Joseph West Jones Center.
Senior guard Kyle White was virtually unstoppable as he torched the Clippers for a career-high 30 points on 12-of-18 shooting from the field, including perfect shooting from three-point range (2-for-2) and the free throw line (4-for-4). He also grabbed seven rebounds, dished out six assists and had five steals – all team highs for GBC.
Junior guard Sam McDuffie registered his fifth straight double-digit scoring performance with 15 points, and pitched in four rebounds and four assists. Junior forward Terrence Parkes and senior forward Troy Esquilin tallied 12 points and five rebounds apiece as well.
The two teams traded points in the early-going, with the Lightning grabbing a four-point lead on two free-throws by Parkes only to have Concordia's Brandon Whitaker hit a three and William Eason (17 points, seven rebounds) hit a jumper back-to-back to put the Clippers up by one, 7-6. Following a layup by Esquilin, CC's Argelix Gil (19 points, 17 rebounds) answered back with a layup to put the Clippers up one (9-8) once more at 16:45.
The Lightning scored seven of the next nine points to take a 15-11 lead after a three-point field goal by McDuffie, but two consecutive layups by Gil (the second one coming off his own steal) sent the game to a second tie, 15-15 with 13:47 left in the first half.
But the CACC South Division's top team was not about to engage in a see-saw battle with the North Division's last-place team as the Lightning took the game over from that point on.
McDuffie's second three-pointer of the game to give the Lightning an 18-15 lead at 13:20 put GBC ahead to stay. That three-pointer sparked a 25-4 Lightning surge as GBC outscored the Clippers 32-10 in the final 13:47 of the first half to take a commanding 47-25 lead at intermission. White and McDuffie led the Lightning in the first half with 18 and 10 points, respectively.
The Lightning did not let up to start the second half, maintaining a lead of 20 or more for most of the second half before extending it to 30 (77-47) on two made free-throws by Parkes at 8:47. Shortly thereafter, head coach Chuck Hammond emptied his bench.
Though Concordia closed out the game on a 28-9 run, the outcome was never in doubt as the Lightning cruised to their second straight win, 86-75. GBC has won eight of their last nine games.
GBC is back in action on Tues. night as the Lightning go on the road for a rematch against Washington Adventist at 8 p.m. They defeated WAU, 85-68 back on Dec. 3.
