2012-13 Goldey-Beacom College Men's Basketball
Game 9: at Millersville (5-2)
Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012 | 7:00 p.m. | Pucillo Gymnasium (Millersville, Pa.)
Live Video: www.millersvilleathletics.com | Live Audio: www.millersvilleathletics.com | Live Stats: www.millersvilleathletics.com
Complete Goldey-Beacom Game Notes in PDF Format
Opening Tip-Off
Looking to rebound from a tough loss on Friday night, the Lightning will finish their season-long five-game road trip on Wednesday evening when they travel to Millersville University for a non-conference game against the Marauders. Opening tip-off from Pucillo Gymnasium is slated for 7 p.m. and live stats along with live audio and video will be available on the Marauders' official athletics website, www.millersvilleathletics.com.
Updating the Lightning
Now 3-5 overall and 1-1 in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference, the Lightning had their two-game win streak snapped with a tough 87-81 setback at Concordia on Friday evening. The Lightning, who were playing their fourth consecutive road game, were led by sophomore guard Marcus Porter, who scored 14 points with a career-high six assists. Meanwhile, junior forward Will Williams added a season-high 13 points with five rebounds. Porter is the Lightning's leading scorer with a 14.4 average while junior guard A.J. Picard has averaged 13.0 points per game.
Scouting Millersville
After dropping back-to-back games to open the season, the Marauders have recorded five consecutive wins and will enter Wednesday's game with a 5-2 overall record and a 2-0 mark in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference after an 84-57 victory over Clarion on Sunday afternoon. Senior guard Larry Grant led the Marauders with 21 points in the win on Sunday, marking his fourth 20-point effort of the season. Meanwhile, senior forward Elijah Obade made all eight of his field goal attempts en route to a 19-point showing. The Marauders, who are averaging 78.25 points per game during their five-game win streak, are led by Grant, who is averaging 19.6 points per game. Obade leads the team by averaging 14.1 rebounds per game while averaging 15.4 points per outing.
Series Business: Millersville
The Lightning will be facing Millersville for the third time in a series that Goldey-Beacom leads by a 2-0 margin. It will be the third meeting between the teams in the last four seasons, but the first meeting since an 80-70 Goldey-Beacom victory on Dec. 13, 2010 at the Joseph West Jones College Center. The Lightning, who also beat Millersville by a 66-52 count during the previous season, earned the win after a 29-point, 16-rebound performance from Terrance Parkes. Parkes made 12 of 23 shots from the floor and also added a pair of assists in the victory.
Concordia Sneaks by Lightning for 87-81 Win
The Lightning had their two-game win streak snapped on Friday night with a tough 87-81 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference setback against Concordia. The Lightning trailed by a 75-74 margin in the second half before the Clippers ended the game by scoring 12 of the final 19 points to earn the victory. Sophomore guard Marcus Porter led the Lightning with 14 points and a career-high six assists while junior forward Will Williams added a season-high 13 points with five rebounds.
Then and Now
After averaging just 55.5 points per game in their first four outings, the Lightning offense has exploded over the last four contests with Goldey-Beacom scoring at least 80 points in each game. The Lightning, who shot 34.7 per cent in the first four games, have averaged 90.2 points per game, including a 110-68 victory over Puerto Rico-Mayaquez in the consolation game of the Nova Southeastern University Thanksgiving Classic on Nov. 24. Junior forward Jordan Thorpe has been a major reason for the Lightning's scoring surge over the last four games, averaging 12.3 points and 11.5 rebounds per game while making 65.6 per cent of his field goal attempts.
Making Them Count
Junior guard A.J. Picard has been one of the Lightning's leaders at the free throw line during his three-year career. In eight regular season games this year, he has converted 35 of 38 free throw attempts and ranks third in the CACC with a .921 free throw percentage. In addition, he also made all eight of his free throw attempts at Towson on Nov. 12 in an exhibition game. Over his last 14 games (excluding the Towson exhibition), the Skippack, Pa. native has made 59 of his last 64 free throw attempts (.922).
What's Ahead for Goldey-Beacom
After playing five consecutive games away from home, the Lightning will return home on Saturday afternoon to face Caldwell College in the first game of a CACC doubleheader at the Joseph West Jones College Center. Opening tip-off between the Lightning and the Cougars is slated for 12 p.m.
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