The Knight’s Gregory Cunningham scored just six points, but his reverse layup and one of two free throws in the last 22 seconds helped Neumann to the win. Elisha Hannibal netted a game-high 21 points while Andre Wright added 15. Cunningham also added seven assists.
Junior Tom Keenan led Gwynedd with 18 points and six rebounds. Junior Chris DelBrocco chipped in 13 points and sophomore Kevin Lauer added 12.
The Griffins (5-9, 3-4 PAC) trailed by as much as 15 midway in the first half, but pulled within 37-32 at the break.
Two Lauer free-throws with 14 minutes to play tied the contest at 45-45 and on the ensuing possession, GM took its first lead of the game on a tough inside runner from junior Rashid Santiago.
Neumann (5-8, 4-1 PAC) would go up by four with just over five minutes remaining before back-to-back buckets from Keenan tied the game at 63-63 with 2:08 to play. Wright gave the Knights a two-point lead courtesy of two free-throws before a big three-pointer from DelBrocco with 49 seconds restored a one-point Gwynedd edge.
Keenan had a chance to win it with 0.8 seconds left but his shot did not fall.
The Griffins shot 36% (26-of-71) for the contest and forced 21 turnovers. Neumann hit 54% (26-of-48) from the floor and outrebounded GM, 37-35.
Newspaper Box Score Neumann College vs Gwynedd-Mercy College 01/16/06 7 p.m. at Griffin Complex Gwynedd Valley, Pa. NEUMANN COLLEGE 68, GWYNEDD-MERCY COLLEGE 66 NEUMANN COLLEGE (5-8, 4-1 PAC) Elisha Hannibal 8-12 1-1 21; Andre Wright 6-10 3-3 15; Ronnie Fields 4-7 0-0 9; Ely Hitchens 3-4 2-2 8; Eric Lawton 2-3 0-0 6; Gregory Cunningham 2-5 1-2 6; James Swigget 1-2 1-5 3; Mike Hitchens 0-5 0-0 0. Totals 26-48 8-13 68. GWYNEDD-MERCY COLLEGE (5-9, 3-4 PAC) Tom Keenan 8-18 2-3 18; Chris DelBrocco 4-15 2-2 13; Kevin Lauer 5-10 2-2 12; Jack Forth 3-6 2-2 8; Francis Bowe 3-9 0-0 7; Rick Haas 2-6 0-0 4; Rashid Santiago 1-3 0-0 2; Larz Jeter 0-1 1-2 1; Haven Wroten 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 26-71 10-13 66. Neumann College............... 37 31 - 68 Gwynedd-Mercy College......... 32 34 - 66 3-point goals-Neumann College 8-18 (Elisha Hannibal 4-7; Eric Lawton 2-3; Ronnie Fields 1-2; Gregory Cunningham 1-3; Mike Hitchens 0-2; Ely Hitchens 0-1), Gwynedd-Mercy College 4-19 (Chris DelBrocco 3-8; Francis Bowe 1-5; Jack Forth 0-1; Rick Haas 0-1; Tom Keenan 0-4). Fouled out--Neumann College-None, Gwynedd-Mercy College-Kevin Lauer. Rebounds-Neumann College 37 (Ely Hitchens 8; James Swigget 8), Gwynedd-Mercy College 35 (Rashid Santiago 7). Assists-Neumann College 19 (Gregory Cunningham 7), Gwynedd-Mercy College 11 (Rashid Santiago 2; Chris DelBrocco 2; Rick Haas 2; Kevin Lauer 2). Total fouls-Neumann College 12, Gwynedd-Mercy College 16. A-200 Pennsylvania Athletic Conference Game