Immaculata, PA (2-14-09) - Tercel Taylor (Jackson, MI/Jackson) netted a game high 19 points, while Keystone College used precision shooting in the second half to record the 61-57 victory over Immaculata University in a key CSAC road contest.
With the victory the Giants move to 16-7 overall and 9-5 in the CSAC, while Immaculata falls to 7-16 and 5-9.
The victory moved the Giants into a third place tie in the CSAC with Marywood University. Both teams have two conference games remaining as they jockey for playoff positioning. Keystone will square off on Tuesday with the team directly behind them and Marywood in the form of Baptist Bible College.
Taylor gave the Giants a big left, especially in the second half when the Giants shot 60% from the field to take their first lead of the game.
The contest didn't start according to the Giants' game plan as Immaculata started the game with a 7-0 lead. The Mighty macs would build the advantage to nine at 25-15 with 4:36 remaining in the opening half.
Keystone's hot shooting second half, actually started in the closing minutes of the first half as the Giants closed the half on an 8-0 run that included six points from Taylor in the form of a layup and four free throws. A Malcom Boone jumper provided the other bucket.
Taylor opened the second half with a layup to give Keystone its first lead of the game at 25-24. The teams would trade the lead back and forth with Immaculata once again building a lead, this time to five points.
The Giants stayed within striking distance, taking back the lead for good on a Spencer Lunger (Lake Winola, PA/Tunkhannock) trifecta with a 6:09 to play and a 45-44 lead. Keystone would actually build their advantage to nine points late in the game, but the Mighty Macs stayed in it cutting the margin to two with 16 seconds left. However, free throws by Taylor and Lunger secured the win for Keystone.
Michael Kelly (New Hartford, NY/New Hartford) was the only other Keystone player in double figures with 11. Boone led the way on the glass with 10 rebounds, while Kenneth Hardnett (Plant City, FL/Plant City) added seven as the Giants held a 37-29 edge.
Robert Siter led Immaculata with 18.
Despite their 60% performance from the floor in the second half and nearly 50% shooting for the game, the Giants struggled from the charity stripe hitting on only 18 of 35 attempts, while missing 13 attempts in the second half.
The Giants return to action on Tuesday February 17 at 8pm when they welcome Baptist Bible College to campus in a very important CSAC contest. The game will also mark 'Pink Zone' on campus as the both the Keystone men's and women's basketball teams help raise money and awareness in the fight against breast cancer.
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