Men’s Basketball Opens AMCC Play in Dominant Fashion

GREENSBURG, PA – In what can only be described as a dominating performance, the Medaille College Men's Basketball team went on the road Saturday afternoon to face the defending AMCC Champion Pitt-Greensburg Bobcats. It was all Medaille from the jump, as the Mavs left Pennsylvania with a (90-57) victory in the conference opener.

The Mavericks came out of the gates on fire against the defending AMCC Champions, taking it to the Bobcats early and often in Greensburg. Nine different Mavs found their way on the scoresheet in the opening (20) minutes of the ball game, including a team-high (12) from sophomore Meghale Ford (Laurel, MD, Theodore Roosevelt (DC)) in the first half.

Medaille got the offense going early, opening the game on an (8-0) run over the game's first two minutes. The lead surged to (17-5) after junior Mike Hollenbeck (Ontario, NY, Wayne Central) scored his third bucket of the contest, putting the Mavs up double-digits early.

That double-digit lead did nothing but grow as the first half continued, as wave after wave of Maverick offense overwhelmed the Bobcats on their home court. The Mavs shot an incredible (46.2%) from the field in the opening frame, while also connecting on (40%) of their shots from behind the three-point line.

Just as impressive was Medaille's defensive performance in the first half. The Mavericks entered halftime with a (25-20) edge in rebounds all while holding Pitt-Greensburg to under (36%) shooting from the floor.

The largest lead of the half came right before the buzzer for Medaille, as Sean Wilson (East Aurora, NY, St. Mary's of Lancaster) hit a free-throw to put the Mavs up (48-26) going into the break.

The second half was much of the same for the Mavericks, as Medaille made a statement to the rest of the AMCC that they came to play. The Maverick lead never dipped below (19) in the second half, as Medaille cruised to a (90-57) victory.

Individually there were a number of Mavericks who stood out in the conference opener. Ford (19), senior Johnathan Belton (Amherst, NY, Amherst) (15), Hollenbeck (12), junior Justice Fagan (Batavia, NY, Batavia) (11), and freshman Jonathan Smith (Accokeek, MD, Clarion Area (PA)) (10) all scored in double-figures for the Mavericks on a day where the team as a whole shot an impressive (48.6%) from the floor.

(12) Mavericks recorded at least one rebound on the afternoon as well, with Hollenbeck, Fagan, Smith, and Wilson all grabbing five to lead the way.

While the offense will catch a lot of people's eyes, it was the defense that may have been the catalyst for the dominating performance. The Mavericks forced the Bobcats to turn the ball over an astounding (28) times overall. (16) of those resulted in steals for the Blue and Gold, while Medaille also held Pitt-Greensburg to just (37.0%) shooting from the field.

Their perimeter defense was even better, allowing the Bobcats to connect on just (27.3%) from behind the three point line.

The win improved Medaille's record to (3-3) overall and (1-0) in AMCC play, as they get ready to host cross-town rival Hilbert College on Wednesday, December 7 at 8:00pm in the Sullivan Center.