Box Score

ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Sophomore forward Joe Spierenburg (Chambersburg, Pa./St. Maria Goretti [Md.]) set a career-high with eight blocked shots and became Gettysburg's career-shot blocking leader in a 71-64 overtime victory over Muhlenberg in Centennial Conference (CC) action on Saturday at Memorial Hall. Spierenburg hit the go-ahead basket that gave the Bullets the lead for good in overtime, and he also finished with 13 points and eight rebounds. Gettysburg has won five of its last seven games while the Mules are on a seven-game skid.

Spierenburg passed David Glaser '05 on Gettysburg's all-time list with his third rejection of the game at 4:12 in the first half. In addition, with 100 career blocked shots, he becomes just the 14th player in the history of the CC to record 100 blocks in his career. Through the games of Jan. 21, Spierenburg ranked fifth in the nation with his average of 3.1 swats per game.

Sophomore guard Dan Capkin (Wynnewood, Pa./Lower Merion) led Gettysburg (7-11, 5-7 CC) with a game-high 26 points, and senior center Brian Sateja (Morristown, N.J./Delbarton School) chipped in 17 points and eight rebounds. Sophomore guard Chris Nevolo (Neshanic Station, N.J./Somerville) grabbed a career-high seven rebounds for the Bullets. Justin Fields led four Muhlenberg (5-13, 4-8 CC) players in double-figures by tying his career-high with 18 points.

Capkin and Sateja combined to score the first six points of the game, giving Gettysburg an early 6-0 lead. However, the Mules retaliated with a 15-1 run capped by a layup from Justin Fields at 9:50.

Fields proceeded to score six consecutive points to give Muhlenberg its largest lead of the game, 21-12, with 7:23 remaining in the first half. The Bullets chipped away and cut the Mules' advantage to 26-23 at the half on Capkin's score in the paint with 40 seconds remaining.

Muhlenberg kept its lead until 2:22 was left in the second half. Two 3-pointers by Chris Pothering and another by Brian Frankoski helped the Mules extend their advantage to 42-35 with 11:37 remaining. Answering each Gettysburg possession, Muhlenberg eventually matched their game-high nine point lead, 50-41, with 5:33 to go.

Gettysburg got the hot hand and went on a 9-0 run to tie the game at 2:22. Sateja started the run with a layup, and Capkin did the same the next time down the floor. Nevolo then drilled a trey with 3:22 left on the clock. He attempted a 3-pointer on the next possession, it bounced off the rim, but Spierenburg tipped it in to tie the game at 50-50.

Frankoski gave the Mules the lead at 1:34 with his jumper. However, Sateja answered with a nice post move and a basket, knotting the score at 52-52. Once again Frankoski came through for Muhlenberg with another score with only 58 ticks on the clock.

With 32 seconds left, Gettysburg took a one-point lead, 55-54, when Spierenburg nailed a 3-pointer off a pass from Sateja. On Muhlenberg's final possession, Tom Scott drove to the basket, but had his shot rejected by Spierenburg. Fields nabbed the rebound, and was fouled on the play with only one second remaining. Because the Mules were in the bonus, Fields went to the charity stripe. He made the front end of a one-and-one, but missed the second, thus sending the game into overtime.

In overtime, Spierenburg broke the 55-55 tie with a 3-pointer at 3:30. Gettysburg held onto the lead for the remainder of the extra frame. The Bullets made 10-of-10 free throws down the stretch to hold onto a 71-64 victory.

Gettysburg will return to action on Wednesday at home for Centennial Conference match with Franklin & Marshall. The game is set to tip off at 7:30 p.m.