Boxscore
NYACK, N.Y. – The Goldey-Beacom College men's basketball team trailed by two at halftime and by as many as seven in the second half, but a 13-0 surge turned a 51-44 deficit into a 57-51 lead, and the Lightning held on to defeat Nyack College, 68-64 on Sat. afternoon at Bowman Gym.
With the win, GBC clinched a playoff spot for the fifth straight year under head coach Chuck Hammond. The Lightning remain atop the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference South Division standings with a record of 15-9 overall and 10-4 in league play. Nyack fell to 2-19 overall and 0-13 in conference.
The two CACC foes, who needed overtime to declare GBC a winner last year, were very even statistically on the day. Both teams shot 41-percent from the field and GBC held slight edges in three-point shooting (4-of-12 to 3-of-14), rebounding (38-36) and assist-to-turnover margin (9/8 to 8/7). The big discrepancy came at the free-throw line where despite the fact that the Warriors shot a perfect 11-of-11, the Lightning made out better at the line making 20-of-30.
Five Lightning players reached double figures, headlined by senior swingman Sam McDuffie (17 points, nine rebounds) and senior forward Terrence Parkes (14 points, 11 rebounds). Those two played a big part in the Lightning's critical 13-0 upswing that gave GBC a six-point lead with 6:39 left to play.
McDuffie hit a pair of free-throws at 5:15 to increase the lead to 61-54, but six straight points by the Warriors made it a one-point game with 2:51 left to play.
Reserve freshman guard A.J. Picard came through in the clutch as he knocked down one of his two three-point shots of the day to stretch the lead to 64-60 at the 1:15 mark. Picard was 2-for-2 from long-range on the day, and is 7-for-7 over the last three games.
But the Warriors continued to battle for their first conference win of the season as they cut the lead to two twice in the waning moments, including 66-64 on a jumper by Lafayette Curtis (14 points).
Goldey-Beacom's senior point guard Azeez Ellegood (10 points, five assists) closed the game out with two free-throws to send the Lightning to the second straight win over Nyack in the all-time series.
Next up for the Lightning is a re-match of last year's CACC Finals against CACC foe Felician College. GBC will host the Golden Falcons on Sat., Feb. 19 at 3 p.m. as part of its PinkZone event.
