Dickinson Burns Past Garnet in Overtime
SWARTHMORE, Pa -- The Centennial Conference slate of men's basketball games Saturday afternoon had its share of thrillers as four games were decided by four points or less. Two towering post-players made sure the action in Tarble Pavilion matched the precedent.
Dickinson 6-10 center Tom Leszczynski (West Babylon, N.Y. / St. Anthony’s) collected a team-high 25 points and a game-high 20 rebounds and guard Kizmahr Grell (Laurelton, N.Y. / The Gunnery) added 20 points as the Red Devils (11-9 overall, 7-7 CC) battled past Swarthmore (5-16 overall, 1-13 CC) in overtime, 74-69.
The Garnet were led by their 6-8 All-Centennial pivot-man, senior Ian McCormick (Seattle, Wash. / University Prep), who scored a game-high 29 points with seven blocks. Sophomore guard Matt Allen (Seattle, Wash. / Lakeside) chipped in 12 points while freshman forward Sam Lacy (Jericho, Vt. / Jericho) added a career-high 11 points.
Both teams joined with the women’s teams in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s (WBCA) “Think Pink” week, in the fight against breast cancer.
The Red Devils battled back from a 10-point deficit in the final four minutes of regulation, tying the contest at 62-all after freshman Matt Dolan (Chalfont, Pa. / St. Joe’s Prep) grabbed an offensive rebound and Grell completed the ensuing lay-up with 16 seconds showing.
Leszczynski shone in the overtime, scoring eight points as Dickinson out-scored Swarthmore 12-7 to earn their third win in four games.
McCormick dominated the middle in the first half, scoring 16 points with four blocks. Senior guard Matt Kurman (Rockville, Mary. / Walter Johnson) dropped in a pair of jumpers late in the second half to give Swarthmore a 33-31 lead at the intermission. Kurman finished with six points and a team-high five assists.
McCormick dropped in seven straight points at the start of the second half as the Garnet maintained its advantage, 43-39, as the clock slipped under 14 minutes remaining.
Grell pumped in a triple from the corner, putting the visitors up 34-33 at the start of the half.
Back and forth went the score, as the game saw 13 lead changes and six ties. Garnet freshman guard Ryan Carmichael (Portland, Maine / Portland) dialed up a deep three at 12:55 to put the Garnet in front 46-44.
McCormick went on another burst, scoring the next seven Swarthmore points on a variety of moves. McCormick continued twist along the baseline for reverse lay-ups, putting Swarthmore out-front 55-51 with 5:45 to play.
Lacy, playing his best game to-date, finished off an old-fashioned three-point play and then added two free throws to increase the Garnet lead to seven, 59-52 with just over four minutes to play. He roused the crowd with a three-pointer at 3:40 to give the team a ten-point lead.
Red Devil sophomore forward Cory Kenny (Richboro, Pa. / Council Rock South) turned the momentum Dickinson’s way with a triple of his own to start a 12-0 run for Dickinson that spanned into overtime.
Swarthmore, playing in its fourth overtime game of the season, received spirited play from its bench, getting a team-high eight rebounds from junior forward Raul Ordonez (Miami, Fla. / Belen Jesuit).
Swarthmore remains in the comfort of Tarble Pavilion for their next contest, hosting Centennial-rival Muhlenberg this Wednesday, February 13 at 7:30 p.m.
Click here for the full box score.