Fisher (25-3) will now face Empire 8 Conference rival Utica College (23-6) for the fourth time this season. The game will be played on Friday at site to be determined on Sunday. Fisher has won the previous three meetings this year vs. Utica, including a 74-61 win over the Pioneers one week ago tonight in the Conference Championship.
Fisher’s Mike McGee (Batavia, NY) led the Cardinals with 22 points and went over 1,000 points for his career. The senior shooting guard shot 9-for-18 from the floor and made four 3-pointers.
Fellow senior Sean O’Brien (Orchard Park, NY) finished with 18 points and 10 assists, while Nick Bennett (Binghamton, NY) added seven points and 12 rebounds.
Rene Cheatham (Cincinnati, OH) led the Cadets (21-8) with 14 points and nine rebounds, while Geoff Hensley (Cincinnati, OH) added 13 points and four assists.
Fisher jumped out to 25-12 lead midway through the first half, but Norwich used a 15-5 run over the next six minutes and pulled to within three and trailed by just five at 34-29 at intermission.
Fisher pushed the lead back to 13 early in the second half, as O’Brien knocked down three 3-pointers in 1:28 span early in the second half. Norwich trailed 54-42 with 6:55 left, but the Cardinals pulled away, outscoring the Cadets 17-2 over the next five minutes.
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Newspaper Box Score Norwich University vs St. John Fisher 03/04/06 7 p.m. at Pittsford,NY: Manning&Napier Varsity Gym At Pittsford,NY: Manning&Napier Varsity Gym ST. JOHN FISHER 71, NORWICH UNIVERSITY 50 NORWICH UNIVERSITY (21-8) Rene Cheatham 6-16 2-2 14; Geoff Hensley 3-12 4-4 13; Jerrold Williams 2-8 0-1 5; Jamel Bedford 2-5 0-0 4; Odiri Emadu 1-1 2-2 4; Scott DuPont 2-6 0-2 4; Brian Dumond 1-3 0-0 2; Derrick Montiero 1-3 0-0 2; Andy Numa 0-1 0-0 0; Cody Hatt 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 18-56 10-13 50. ST. JOHN FISHER (25-3) Mike McGee 9-18 0-0 22; Sean O'Brien 6-10 2-2 18; Dan McSweeney 4-7 0-0 8; Nick Bennett 2-9 2-2 7; Justin Beigel 3-7 0-0 6; Isaiah Smalt 1-2 3-3 5; Raymie Auman 1-4 0-0 3; Mark Bearden 1-1 0-0 2; Dan Mueller 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 27-60 7-8 71. Norwich University............ 29 21 - 50 St. John Fisher............... 34 37 - 71 3-point goals-Norwich University 4-15 (Geoff Hensley 3-10; Jerrold Williams 1-3; Derrick Montiero 0-1; Jamel Bedford 0-1), St. John Fisher 10-25 (Sean O'Brien 4-5; Mike McGee 4-12; Raymie Auman 1-3; Nick Bennett 1-4; Dan Mueller 0-1). Fouled out--Norwich University-None, St. John Fisher-None. Rebounds-Norwich University 30 (Rene Cheatham 9), St. John Fisher 44 (Nick Bennett 12). Assists-Norwich University 10 (Geoff Hensley 4), St. John Fisher 18 (Sean O'Brien 10). Total fouls-Norwich University 12, St. John Fisher 12. A-550 NCAA Division III Championship - Second Round Fisher advances to the "Sweet 16" for the second straight year and will