The Flying Dutchmen (9-1), who won their eighth straight game, have now advanced to the Rinso Marquette Championship in all 13 years of the tournament’s existence. LVC will attempt to win its fourth straight tournament championship when it takes on New Jersey City University on Sunday at 3 p.m. in the title game. New Jersey City defeated FDU-Florham 78-56 in the other first-round game.
Byers, who entered the game as the fifth-leading scorer (25.6 points per game) in Division III, netted 17 of his points in the first half as the Dutchmen bolted to a 14-point (38-24) halftime advantage. Sophomore guard Isaac Greer nailed a three-pointer 28 seconds into the second half to cut the deficit to 11, but a 14-4 LVC run gave the Dutchmen a commanding 21-point lead (52-31) with 14:38 left in the game. The Griffins were unable to pull closer than 14 the rest of the way.
Greer finished with a team-high 27 points and connected on 7-of-13 three-pointers for Chestnut Hill (7-4). The Griffins attempted a whopping 41 threes, but made only 13 for a 31.7% mark. Lebanon Valley, which ranked third in the nation in field goal percentage defense entering the game (35.0%), limited Chestnut Hill to 29.6% shooting from the field.
The Griffins led just twice in the game, and a Greer three-pointer with 16:29 left in the first half marked the team’s final lead (6-5) of the night. The Dutchmen would never trail after senior forward Steve Buzinski converted a lay-up with 15:49 on the clock to put the Dutchmen up 7-6 after electrifying the crowd with a soaring tomahawk slam over a Chestnut Hill defender minutes earlier.
The game was tied at 22 with 4:47 left in the opening half following a fastbreak lay-up by sophomore guard Shawn Bolling. But that’s when the Dutchmen took control of the game by ending the half on a 16-2 run.
Buzinski finished with 14 points on superb 7-of-8 shooting and tied a career-high with 14 rebounds for his third straight double-double, his sixth of the season. He also tied a career-high with five assists.
Senior center Brad Stigelman added 14 points and a game-high four blocked shots for Lebanon Valley, which shot 50.8% for the game. Junior forward Dan Hogan contributed eight points and nine rebounds for Lebanon Valley.
The Dutchmen played the game without their fourth-leading scorer, sophomore shooting guard Jimmy Curran, who sat out to rest an injured ankle. Sophomore Hunter Bretschneider made his first collegiate start in Curran’s place and had two points and two assists.
Chestnut Hill vs Lebanon Valley 1/8/05 8:00 pm at Annville, Pa. (LVC Gymnasium) At Annville, Pa. (LVC Gymnasium) LEBANON VALLEY 81, CHESTNUT HILL 59 CHESTNUT HILL (7-4) Greer, Isaac 9-18 2-2 27; Bolling, Shawn 3-11 2-3 9; Devine, Mike 2-6 0-0 6; Albany, Ryan 2-3 0-4 5; Rebstock, L.B. 1-9 0-0 3; McDonald, Mike 1-5 0-0 3; Graham, Darien 1-7 0-0 2; Swoyer, Joe 1-3 0-0 2; Emenimadu, Kevin 1-3 0-0 2; Martin, Tracy 0-2 0-0 0; Galbally, Dan 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 21-71 4-9 59. LEBANON VALLEY (9-1) J.D. Byers 10-15 5-7 29; Brad Stigelman 6-11 2-4 14; Steve Buzinski 7-8 0-1 14; Dan Hogan 3-9 2-4 8; Matt Polinsky 2-4 0-0 6; Adam Brossman 1-1 0-0 2; Luke Foster 1-2 0-0 2; Hunter Bretschneider 1-6 0-0 2; Brian Wolensky 0-1 2-2 2; Luke Rendine 0-1 0-0 0; Billy Orr 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 31-61 13-20 81. Chestnut Hill................. 24 35 - 59 Lebanon Valley................ 38 43 - 81 3-point goals-Chestnut Hill 13-41 (Greer, Isaac 7-13; Devine, Mike 2-5; Albany, Ryan 1-1; Rebstock, L.B. 1-5; McDonald, Mike 1-3; Bolling, Shawn 1-5; Galbally, Dan 0-2; Martin, Tracy 0-1; Emenimadu, Kevin 0-1; Graham, Darien 0-5), Lebanon Valley 6-9 (J.D. Byers 4-5; Matt Polinsky 2-2; Hunter Bretschneider 0-2). Fouled out--Chestnut Hill-None, Lebanon Valley-None. Rebounds-Chestnut Hill 32 (Bolling, Shawn 6), Lebanon Valley 52 (Steve Buzinski 14). Assists-Chestnut Hill 11 (Bolling, Shawn 5), Lebanon Valley 19 (Steve Buzinski 5). Total fouls-Chestnut Hill 20, Lebanon Valley 12. A-674 Rinso Marquette Invitational First Round