The Cardinals forced the overtime period on a Patrick Satalin (Syracuse, N.Y./Westhill) three-pointer with three seconds left in regulation to tie it at 60-60.
From there the Griffins converted on 6-of-10 from the free-throw line and survived a late CUA bucket cutting the lead to two as Gwynedd Mercy, playing in their first NCAA Tournament game, advanced to the Sweet 16.
CUA had their biggest lead at nine midway throughout the first half as Satalin gave Catholic a 24-15. But GMC answered taking a 31-28 lead on a Badou Gaye layin. Satalin finished with was one of four Cardinals in double figures with 18 points.
A trey from Patrick Dwyer (Williamsburg, Va./Walsingham Academy) tied the game at 31-31 and helped the Cardinals score the next four points to close the half and take a 35-31 lead at the break. Dwyer scored 11 points, all of which came in the first half.
A 10-0 run by the Griffins early in the second gave GMC their biggest lead of the contest, 56-50, with eight minutes remaining.
The two teams had trouble finding their shooting touch, as the two teams combined for 13 points over the next seven minutes.
Two free-throws by Corey Cann gave GMC a 60-57 lead with 24 seconds in the game, setting the stage for Satalin’s off-balance three-pointer to tie the two teams for the sixth time.
In the overtime period, the Cardinals were 5-of-12 shooting but could only convert on just 1-of-4 from the free-throw line.
Satalin hit his third trey of the game to cut the GMC lead to 73-70 with 22 ticks in the extra session. Rashid Santiago hit the back end of a 1-and-1 to make it a four-points game before Mills tipped in a three-point miss by William Morley (Olney, Md./Good Counsel) with 5 seconds.
The Griffins were able to beat the full-court trap and run out the clock.
Gaye totaled 21 points and teammate Jolon Davis added 10 points and 11 boards.
Seniors Morley scored a team-high 20 points and pulled down 12 boards and Mills added 11 points and a game-high 14 caroms as each recorded a double-double. Adam Dickman (Walkersville, Md./Thomas Johnson) chipped in two points, five assists, and three rebounds. The trio end their spectacular careers winning 102 games compared to 18 losses, three CAC Championships, four NCAA Tournament Appearances, and a National Championship in 2001.
The Cardinals finish the season at 24-6
Newspaper Box Score Catholic University vs Gwynedd Mercy College 03/06/04 7 p.m. at Gwynedd Valley, Pa. At Gwynedd Valley, Pa. GWYNEDD MERCY COLLEGE 74, CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY 72 CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY (24-6) William Morley 8-19 1-4 20; Patrick Satalin 7-15 1-3 18; Blair Mills 4-13 3-4 11; Patrick Dwyer 4-7 1-2 11; Matt Tanner 1-9 0-0 3; Aaron Kelly 1-1 0-0 2; Shane Sowden 1-3 0-0 2; Adam Dickman 0-3 2-2 2; Mike Wasilenko 1-2 0-0 2; Tim Burke 0-3 1-2 1; Matt Spierenburg 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 27-76 9-17 72. GWYNEDD MERCY COLLEGE (26-2) Badou Gaye 8-19 5-8 21; Jeff Thomas 6-9 1-7 13; Rashid Santiago 3-10 6-7 12; Jolon Davis 3-10 3-4 10; Corey Cann 3-10 2-2 9; Courtney Griffin 3-4 1-2 7; Joe Kilpatrick 1-2 0-0 2; Chris DelBrocco 0-9 0-0 0. Totals 27-73 18-30 74. Catholic University........... 35 25 12 - 72 Gwynedd Mercy College......... 31 29 14 - 74 3-point goals-Catholic University 9-35 (Patrick Satalin 3-10; William Morley 3-11; Patrick Dwyer 2-3; Matt Tanner 1-4; Adam Dickman 0-3; Tim Burke 0-2; Blair Mills 0-2), Gwynedd Mercy College 2-14 (Jolon Davis 1-1; Corey Cann 1-5; Rashid Santiago 0-2; Chris DelBrocco 0-6). Fouled out--Catholic University-Patrick Dwyer, Gwynedd Mercy College-None. Rebounds-Catholic University 56 (Blair Mills 14), Gwynedd Mercy College 50 (Jolon Davis 11). Assists-Catholic University 13 (Adam Dickman 5), Gwynedd Mercy College 14 (Jolon Davis 4). Total fouls-Catholic University 21, Gwynedd Mercy College 16. A-800 2004 NCAA Division III Tournament Second-Round Game