Box Score
GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Andy O'Brien (Hanover, PA/Delone Catholic) scored a team-high 18 points and Alex Bernstein added 13 points and 10 rebounds to lead York past Gettysburg 69-65 in non-conference men's basketball action on Monday.
O'Brien scored seven points in a 14-5 first-half run to help York (2-2) take an early nine-point lead that it wouldn't relinquish the rest of the way. Teammate John Ely knocked down four of five 3-point attempts for 12 points, helping the Spartans shoot 9-for-15 from behind the arc on the night.
For Gettysburg, top scorer Curtis McNeil (Alexandria, VA/St. Stephen's & St. Agnes) led the way with 24 points – the second-highest single-game total of his career – and seven rebounds while Terence Callahan (Bay Shore, NY/St. Anthony's) reached season highs with 12 points and five boards. On the glass, Kevin Boyle (Dublin, PA/Lansdale) set a career high with 11 rebounds while Jim Natale (Washington Crossing, PA/Council Rock) also reached a career best with eight boards.
In a first half that featured five ties and nine lead changes in the first 11 minutes, York took control with a 14-5 run.
With the game tied at 22, Justin Brown knocked down a jumper to put the Spartans ahead to stay at 24-22 with 8:53 remaining and O'Brien followed with a 3-pointer for a 27-22 edge.
Natale converted two free throws and McNeil went 1-for-2 from the line to pull the Bullets (2-2) within two, but O'Brien hit two foul shots and Ely knocked down a 3-pointer to make it 32-25 in favor of York with 5:28 left before halftime.
McNeil got Gettysburg within 32-27 on a put-back of a Natale miss, but David Croall converted two free throws and O'Brien hit a layup off a steal by Tim Hawken to make it 36-27 at the 2:42 mark.
York took a 36-29 lead into the half and pushed its advantage to 55-43 with 7:41 left in the game before Gettysburg nearly came the whole way back, courtesy of an 11-0 run.
McNeil knocked down 3-pointers on consecutive trips and Mike Monroe (Alexandria, VA/Bishop Ireton) added five of his seven points on a layup and 3-pointer to cut the York lead to 55-54 with 5:48 remaining.
The Spartans stabilized the situation, however, on a bucket from Steve Schmehl, five points from Bernstein and the last of Ely's four 3-pointers to take a 65-56 lead with 2:56 left.
York went only 4-for-10 from the free throw line in the final three minutes, but Gettysburg could get no closer than the final four-point margin.
Schmehl also reached double figures for the Spartans, finishing with 10 points to go along with seven rebounds. Natale scored a season-high nine points and also set career highs with seven free throws on 10 attempts.
Gettysburg returns to action on Thursday, November 30 at Marymount University. Game time is 7 p.m.
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