Royals’ Wrap-up
For Saturday, January 31 (Afternoon Session)
Men’s Basketball: O’DONNELL’S CAREER-HIGH 31-POINT, 17-REBOUND EFFORT NOT ENOUGH TO KEEP ROYALS FROM DROPPING 64-60 LOSS TO FDU-FLORHAM AT THE LONG CENTER
SCRANTON, Pa.—Junior forward Brian O’Donnell (Mahopac, N.Y./John F. Kennedy) scored a game-high 31 points and pulled down a game-high 17 rebounds—both career-highs—but it wasn’t enough to keep The University of Scranton from dropping a 64-60 decision to Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham in Freedom Conference action Saturday afternoon at the John F. Long, S.J., Center.
The Royals, now 3-16 overall and 1-7 in the Freedom Conference, had a chance to avenge a 90-60 loss to FDU-Florham last Monday in Madison, New Jersey, but two critical turnovers down the stretch may have cost them the game. Sophomore guard Jamal Ford (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus) led the Devils, now 8-9 overall and 3-4 in the Freedom Conference, with 22 points.
Trailing by four with less than two minutes remaining, sophomore forward Bill Burke (West Pittston, Pa./Seton Catholic), who finished with eight points and 10 turnovers, threw a pass that was stolen by Ford, who was fouled and hit one of two free throws to give FDU-Florham a 58-53 lead. After Royal freshman guard Sean Clark (Spring Lake Heights, N.J./St. Rose/Kent-Conn.) scored all five of his points in the final 1:21, including a 3-pointer with 26 seconds remaining to cut the lead to two, 60-58, Scranton had an opportunity to tie the game after Ford made one of two free throws with 23 seconds left. Royal sophomore guard Mike Riccobono (Chester, N.J./Mendham) was called for a traveling violation with 15 seconds remaining after slipping to the floor while driving to the basket.
Frank Emslie (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan) connected on two free throws on the other end of the floor after the Royals fouled immediately to give FDU-Florham some breathing room, 63-58.
O’Donnell’s 31-point outburst surpassed his previous career-highs of 28 in aN 81-69 win against Delaware Valley last Wednesday, January 28, at the Long Center and in a 66-62 loss to the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York, on January 8, 2004. His previous high of 16 rebounds came on six different occasions. His ‘double-double’ in points and rebounds was his eighth of the season and the 25th of his career.
The Royals connected on only 10 of 35 attempts in the first half, yet trailed by only four at intermission, 27-23. Scranton tied the game twice in the second half but never took a lead.
Newspaper Box Score FDU-Florham vs University of Scranton 1-31-04 3:00 pm at Long Center, Scranton, Pa. At Long Center, Scranton, Pa. FDU-FLORHAM 64, UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON 60 FDU-FLORHAM (8-9/3-4 Freedom) Jamaal Ford 9-14 4-6 22; Jeff Hemschoot 3-8 3-4 9; Frank Emslie 2-9 3-4 9; Chris Hendershot 3-9 2-3 8; Chris Trotta 2-8 2-2 8; Nate Lawrence 1-3 1-2 4; Cody Chalmers 1-1 0-0 2; Kevin White 1-2 0-0 2; Matt Weisenthal 0-1 0-0 0; Matt Cushing 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 22-56 15-21 64. THE UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON (3-16/1-7 Freedom) Brian O'Donnell 11-20 9-12 31; Nick Alfier 3-9 1-2 9; Bill Burke 4-12 0-0 8; Sean Clark 2-10 0-0 5; Matthew Snyder 1-4 0-0 3; Patrick Clabby 0-2 2-2 2; Mike McGowan 1-3 0-0 2; Justin Freid 0-2 0-0 0; Michael Riccobono 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 22-66 12-16 60. FDU-Florham................... 27 37 - 64 University of Scranton........ 23 37 - 60 3-point goals-FDU-Florham 5-21 (Chris Trotta 2-8; Frank Emslie 2-7; Nate Lawrence 1-2; Chris Hendershot 0-1; Jamaal Ford 0-3), University of Scranton 4-23 (Nick Alfier 2-8; Matthew Snyder 1-4; Sean Clark 1-4; Mike McGowan 0-1; Michael Riccobono 0-1; Bill Burke 0-2; Brian O'Donnell 0-3). Fouled out--FDU-Florham-Chris Hendershot, University of Scranton-None. Rebounds-FDU-Florham 40 (Jeff Hemschoot 7), University of Scranton 39 (Brian O'Donnell 17). Assists-FDU-Florham 12 (Jamaal Ford 5), University of Scranton 12 (Sean Clark 3). Total fouls-FDU-Florham 19, University of Scranton 18. A-400