CHESTER, PA – The York College men's basketball
dropped an 87-75 decision to #23 Widener University in the
championship game of the Oki Data Americas Tip-Off Tournament in
Chester, PA on Saturday afternoon. The Pride improves to 4-1
overall while the Spartans fall to 1-3.
The Spartans kept the game close in the first half as the first
seven minutes as there were three ties. The last tie came at 18-18
with 13:12 remaining in the first stanza. The Spartans then
embarked on a 9-2 run that gave them a 27-20 lead. The Spartans
held the lead until the Pride tied the game for a fourth time, this
time at 38 with 3:12 left in the half. Widener scored ten of the
final 12 points of the half to turn the tight game into a 48-40
lead at the break.
The Pride continued their steady play over the first ten minutes of
the second half as they steadily built the lead to as many as 20
twice with the last time coming at 73-53 with 12:21 left in the
game. The Spartans responded by going on a 13-5 run that trimmed
their deficit to 12 at 78-66 with 5:45 showing on the clock. York
cut the Widener lead to 11 twice in the final minute but that was
as close as they would get the remainder of the game.
The Pride received a career-high 29 from Matt Sosna as he was
12-for-17 from the floor, 1-for-2 from three, and 4-for-4 from the
free throw line. He also pulled in eight rebounds and handed out
four assists. Charles Jones chipped in with 23 points, four
assists, and three steals. Nyere Miller added 11 points and eight
steals while Jamarr Johnson was the fourth Widner player in double
figures as he tallied 10 points.
The Spartans were led by freshman Paul Kouvaris (Baltimore,
Md./Cardinal Gibbons) as he recorded career-highs with 17
points and 10 rebounds for his first collegiate double-double.
Kouvaris also dished out a career-high six assists. Junior
Jeremy Keefer (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra) earned a spot
on the All-Tournament team with 15 points and seven rebounds.
Fellow junior Nick Brady (Hanover, Pa./Delone
Catholic) joined Keefer on the All-Tournament team as he
had 13 points, six rebounds, and four assists. Freshman
Julian Watson (Odenton, Md./Arundel) contributed
12 points, three rebounds, and two assists while senior
Mike Riley (Webster, N.Y./McQuaid Jesuit) was the
fifth Spartan in double figures with 10 points.
Turnovers proved to be York's undoing as the Green and White
committed 28 turnovers which Widener converted into 32 points. The
Pride collected 19 steals in the win.
York finished the game shooting 50.8% from the floor but the
Spartans struggled from distance, converting just 4-of-13 (30.8%)
from distance. The Spartans were solid from the charity stripe as
they went 11-for-13. The Pride shot 47.9% from the floor as they
had 12 more field goal attempts from York. Widener converted 36.8%
from three and 70.6% from the free throw line.
The Spartans dominated the glass, finishing with a 42-27 edge in
rebounding but York forced just 10 Widener turnovers which they
turned into just five points.
The Spartans return to action on Tuesday evening when they travel
to Gettysburg to face the Bullets in a non-conference contest. Game
time in Gettysburg is set for 8:00 pm.
GAME BOX
Nick Brady photo courtesy of Eric Linsley.
