Wolf Loads Up, Garnet Snap Streak
SALEM, Va. -- Swarthmore senior Steve Wolf scored a season-high 31 points as the Garnet broke a seven-game skid with an 89-84 win over FDU-Florham in the consolation game of the 2008 Domino's New Years Tournament hosted by Roanoke College Saturday afternoon.
Swarthmore (3-7) got 14 points from center Ian McCormick ‘08 (Seattle, Wash. / University Prep) while All-Tournament selection Matt Kurman ’08 (Rockville, Md. / Walter Johnson) chipped in 13 points and a game-high eight assists (tying his career-high set earlier this season).
Kurman totaled 14 assists over two games, moving into sole possession of fifth all-time at Swarthmore with 232 helpers.
Wolf (pictured above) finished 11-of-14 from the field and nine-of 14 from the free throw line, reaching the 30-point plateau for the third time—the last being a 37-point effort vs. Washington (Md.) on Feb. 15, 2006.
The Devils fell to 1-11 on the season, despite a game-high 33 points from junior guard Ryan McPherson (West Orange, N.J. / West Orange). FDU-Florham senior forward Milton LaCroix (Atlanta, Ga. / Centennial) added 16 points while freshman center Ricky Festke (Galloway, N.J. / Absegami) chipped in 14 points.
The Garnet expanded on a four-point halftime lead with a 13-7 run in the first five minutes of the half. The lead swelled to as many as 13—Wolf (Philadelphia, Pa. / Father Judge) dropped in one of two technical free throws, freshman forward Sam Lacy (Jericho, Vt. / Jericho) added two made free throws and Kurman canned a jumper to put Swarthmore out front 70-57 with 8:21 to play.
The Devils pecked away at the deficit, getting it to 74-67 at 6:08 when McPherson converted an old-fashioned three-point play.
Kurman answered with a leaner off the glass and a free throw on the next possession to put Swat back up 77-67. Two more Kurman free throws at 4:07 put Swarthmore ahead 81-72.
FDU-Florham successfully closed the gap on the Garnet, sending Swarthmore to the line while trying to score quickly on offense. The scoreboard read 82-78 Garnet with 1:02 left and the Devils forced a Swarthmore turnover. FDU-Florham got two clean looks at jump shots on the possession, yet came away empty. Swarthmore junior forward Raul Ordonez (Miami, Fla. / Belen Jesuit) corralled the second miss and got the ball in the hands of senior guard Noam Fliegelman (Philadelphia, Pa. / Central), who was immediately fouled with 45 seconds showing on the clock.
Fliegelman made one of two and McPherson down the court and dropped in a three-pointer to make it 83-81 with 40 seconds left.
Swarthmore allowed the Devils’ to get no closer, sinking six of its next eight free throws to seal its third win of the season.
The Garnet held a 37-32 edge on the glass and handed out 18 assists to 13 turnovers (a season-low) as a team. For the second game in a row, Swarthmore hit over 50% of their shots from the field and surpassed the 80-point mark for the fourth time this season.
The Devils took advantage of early Swarthmore foul trouble at the game’s onset, building a 10-5 lead following a jumper by junior forward Andrew Biancosino (Edison, N.J. / John Stevens) at 15:36. Garnet leading scorer McCormick was set to the bench with two early fouls and classmate Wolf picked up the offensive slack, scoring seven points in a 9-2 run—Swarthmore held its first lead 14-12 at 13:09.
The lead would grow to six in the early going, backed by triples from freshman Ryan Carmichael (Portland, Maine / Portland) and Lacy.
Wolf gave the Garnet their largest lead of the half, 34-27, with a lay-up at 5:21. Swarthmore withstood a late FDU-Florham run at the end of the half, maintaining a four-point edge (41-37) at the intermission.
Wolf led all scorers at the intermission with 18 points on identical six-of-eight shooting from the field and the free throw line. Carmichael also had a strong first twenty minutes, hitting two three-pointers on the way to 10 points.
Fetske was a perfect five-of-five from the floor to lead the Devils with 11 points at half.
The Garnet return home on Wednesday, Feb. 9 for a Centennial doubleheader against Franklin & Marshall. The Garnet women take the court first, tipping off at 6:00 p.m. with the men following 25 minutes after the conclusion of the women’s game. After failing to defeat the Diplomat men on 29 consecutive occasions, Swarthmore has turned the tables and is riding a three-game win-streak, including a thrilling 73-71 victory in Lancaster last season.
Click here for the box score.