SELINSGROVE, Pa.—Junior guard Mike McGowan (Lansdale, Pa./Lansdale Catholic) came off the bench to score 16 points on 5 of 6 shooting from the field in 23 minutes of action to spark The University of Scranton to a 75-70 victory over New Jersey City University in the opening round of the Pepsi/Weis Markets Tip-Off Tourney Friday evening at the Houts Gymnasium on the campus of Susquehanna University.
The Royals, now 1-0, also received 15 points, five assists and three steals from sophomore point-guard Randy Arnold (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks West), 14 points and five assists from junior forward Patrick Clabby (Middletown, N.J./Middletown), and 11 points from junior guard Darren Cannon (Paupack, Pa./Wallenpaupack Area) to move into Saturday’s championship game against either Susquehanna or Chestnut Hill beginning at 3:00 p.m. Mark Washington led New Jersey City, which advanced to the NCAA tournament in each of the last two seasons, with a game-high 25 points and Rob Freeney and Devin Davis added 15 and 12 points, respectively.
Scranton extended a 31-29 halftime lead into what appeared to be a comfortable 17-point lead, 59-42, as Cannon scored eight points during a 28-13 run in the opening 12 minutes of the second half. Washington brought the Gothic Knights storming back by scoring 14 points during a 26-14 spurt over the next seven minutes to cut Scranton’s lead to five, 73-68, with 34 seconds remaining.
McGowan sank two free throws with 32 seconds left before Charles Coles missed a jump shot on New Jersey City’s next possession. After a Scranton turnover, Washington added a pair of free throws with 15 seconds left to set the final score. The Royals turned it over again with nine seconds remaining, but the Gothic Knights were unable to capitalize.
Scranton shot 60 percent from the field in the second half (15 of 25) to finish 50 percent for the game (25 of 50), but was guilty of 21 turnovers. The Royals, which out-rebounded the Gothic Knights 42-31, also received eight points and a game-high nine rebounds from sophomore starting center Tom Bicknell (Melbourne, Australia/St. Bede’s College), a transfer from Division II Adams State College (Colorado), and four points and eight rebounds from senior forward and tri-captain Bill Burke (West Pittston, Pa./Seton Catholic).
The Royals iare now 3-2 in season-openers under fifth-year head coach Carl Danzig. Scranton will be making their third appearance in the Pepsi/Weis Markets Tip-Off Tourney championship game since 2000 and second under Danzig. The Royals lost to Susquehanna twice, 89-80 in 2000 and 73-71 in 2002.
Tomorrow’s championship game can be heard live on WUSR, 99.5 FM, and over the Internet at www.scranton.edu/wusr, with Dean Corwin and Harry Dammer calling all the action beginning at 2:50 p.m.
Newspaper Box Score The University of Scranton 75, New Jersey City 70 NEW JERSEY CITY (0-1) Mark Washington 9-15 4-5 25; Rob Freeney 6-15 0-0 15; Devin Davis 5-10 1-1 12; Alex Mirabel 3-6 0-1 7; Charles Coles 1-8 0-0 3; Dana John 1-5 1-2 3; James Kaiser 1-3 0-0 2; Arshen Hunter 0-1 1-2 1; Ben Balcom 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 26-65 9-13 70. THE UNIVERSITY OF SCRANTON (1-0) Mike McGowan 5-6 3-4 16; Randy Arnold 4-6 6-13 15; Patrick Clabby 4-6 6-7 14; Darren Cannon 4-7 0-0 11; Tom Bicknell 3-11 2-2 8; Ryan FitzPatrick 2-6 0-0 5; Bill Burke 2-4 0-2 4; Michael Riccobono 1-2 0-0 2; Mike Kreuter 0-2 0-2 0. Totals 25-50 17-30 75. New Jersey City............... 29 41 - 70 Scranton...................... 31 44 - 75 3-point goals-New Jersey City 9-25 (Mark Washington 3-6; Rob Freeney 3-9; Charles Coles 1-3; Alex Mirabel 1-1; Devin Davis 1-2; Ben Balcom 0-1; Dana John 0-3), Scranton 8-14 (Darren Cannon 3-6; Mike McGowan 3-3; Ryan FitzPatrick 1-4; Randy Arnold 1-1). Fouled out--New Jersey City-Alex Mirabel, Scranton-None. Rebounds-New Jersey City 31 (Devin Davis 6), Scranton 42 (Tom Bicknell 9). Assists-New Jersey City 13 (Alex Mirabel 5), Scranton 16 (Randy Arnold 5; Patrick Clabby 5). Total fouls-New Jersey City 27, Scranton 16. A-45