Box Score
COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – Will Furey and Mike McGarvey scored a game-high 21 points apiece and combined for all 17 of Ursinus' overtime points as the defending Centennial Conference (CC) champions defeated Gettysburg 71-62 on Tuesday.
Furey put the Bears (4-2, 2-1 CC) ahead to stay with a 3-pointer early in the overtime and McGarvey added 12 points on nine free throws and a trey, helping the hosts prevail after falling behind by 18 points in the first half.
Mike Spadafora (Richboro, PA/Archbishop Wood) scored a team-high 16 points for the Bullets, who managed only 21 points on 7-of-31 shooting in the second half and overtime period. Matt Whelan (Ridgefield, CT/Ridgefield/Worcester Acad. [MA]) chipped in with 12 points while Mike Beck (Clearwater, FL/Clearwater) added a career-high 11 for the second straight game.
In danger of losing their second straight CC contest, Ursinus rallied with a strong showing after halftime.
The Bears allowed only nine points through the first 17 minutes of the second half, turning a 43-28 deficit into a 54-50 lead with 2:50 remaining. Furey scored eight points during that stretch while Brian McEvily added seven.
Gettysburg (3-3, 1-2 CC) rallied to tie on four free throws from Whelan, the last two set up by a Brady steal in the final minute. The Bullets had the final shot to win in regulation, but Scott Dozier's (Baltimore, MD/St. Paul's School) jumper missed the mark with four ticks left.
In the overtime, Furey opened the scoring with a layup, then drilled a 3-pointer to snap a 56-all tie with 3:30 remaining, putting Ursinus ahead to stay. From there, McGarvey flashed his CC Player of the Year form, nailing a 3-pointer before going 9-of-10 from the free throw line over the final 2:18 to seal the win.
In sharp contrast to the second half and overtime, the first half was all Gettysburg.
Three-pointers from Brady, Whelan and Beck – each following a Bear turnover – gave the Bullets an early 20-9 advantage. Treys from Whelan, Spadafora and Joe Spierenburg (Chamersburg, PA/St. Maria Goretti [MD]) made it 36-18 with 7:06 left in the first half.
Despite a scoring drought of nearly four minutes, Gettysburg took a 41-28 lead into halftime and managed the first basket of the second half before Ursinus clamped down on defense and started its comeback.
Brady put together a solid all-around performance, scoring nine points to go with a game-high six assists and four rebounds. Spadafora added a team-high five rebounds.
McEvily and Matt Fabian finished with nine points apiece in the win while McGarvey added five assists and three steals. Nick Shattuck pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds, helping the Bears posted a 43-24 edge on the glass.
The Bullets return to action on Saturday at McDaniel. Game time is 2 p.m.
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