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17 mbb ritz inside
63
Gannon GAN-M 5-4, 3-2 PSAC
65
Winner Wheeling Jesuit WJU-M 8-1, 3-1 MEC
Gannon GAN-M
5-4, 3-2 PSAC
63
Final
65
Wheeling Jesuit WJU-M
8-1, 3-1 MEC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Gannon GAN-M 39 24 63
Wheeling Jesuit WJU-M 30 35 65

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Chris Myers

Ritz Block Helps WJU Seal Comeback Win over Gannon

Ritz FB Dunk Highlight
Final 12.6 Seconds Highlight
WHEELING, W. Va. – Kyle Ritz proved to be the Cardinals difference in the final 11 minutes Sunday afternoon. A big second half was completed when Ritz blocked Gannon's game-tying attempt in the final-seconds flurry and sealed Wheeling Jesuit's 65-63 victory.
 
After trailing by 10 points with 15:20 left, the No. 13 Cardinals (8-1) went on a 13-2 run for its first lead, 50-49, over the next five minutes. But it was Ritz's final 11 minutes, which proved to be the WJU difference. The senior forward scored nine of his team-high 12 points, grabbed seven rebounds, handed out an assist with 3:36 left, and blocked a pair of shots in the second stanza with the second one being the potential game-tying Gannon (5-4) bucket.
 
"It was a hard fought win as Gannon played extremely hard and really hurt us offensively by making us work for every basket. It was a real gut check and a fight as Gannon is a very physical team," explained WJU head coach Danny Sancomb. "The difference was our defense in the second half as we made it difficult for them to score. I was happy with our guys in the second half.
 
Ritz down the stretch was big as he chased down rebounds, blocked shots and played very well in the last 10 minutes," finished Sancomb.
 
Ritz finished with his first double-double of the year with 10 rebounds to go with his 12 tallies. His five-straight points, pulled the team to within a point, while a later dunk gave WJU and assist gave the Cardinals their largest lead of the game of five points.
 
Ritz and the Cardinals' defense held the Golden Knights to 9 of 30 from the floor and 1 of 6 from long-range in the game-deciding second half.
 
Haywood Highsmith recorded his own double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds. Preston Boswell and Chase Lawson pumped in two 3-pointers apiece for 11 and 10 points, respectively.
 
Dominique Tham added seven points and two blocks off the bench.
 
Gannon received a game-high 18-point and 10-rebound day from Matthew Dogan, while Zay Jackson had 16 points.
 
The Golden Knights owned the game's opening five minutes. Tied at 2-2, Gannon rattled off the next 14 points and opened a 16-2 lead at 14:47.
 
"Our bench was very important when we were down 16-2 as we subbed in Tham, Boswell, Jarin (Hilson) and Matt (Stewart) and they were able to help get us back to a manageable score," added the Cardinals' coach.
 
WJU battled the rest of the first half and pulled to within four points, 34-30, before a visitor triple with two seconds left made it a 39-30 intermission tally.
 
Gannon added a point for a 10-point margin, 47-37, at 15:20. A Boswell 3-pointer from Lawson started the WJU comeback and the 13-2 game-changing run.
 
The Cardinals did not hold a lead until Pat Moseh sank two free throws at 10:01 to make it 50-49. Moseh tied the game again, 52-52, and Tham another deadlock, 54-54, at 6:17.
 
Tham gave WJU the lead for good with 1 of 2 free throws, 55-54, at 5:05, before the Ritz dunk after a Gannon turnover. A Lawson 3-pointer put the largest home lead, 60-55, with 3:36 on the scoreboard, before the final Ritz block sealed the WJU win.
 
"We did a better job of execution in the half court and our toughness gave us a chance to win the game in the end," finished Sancomb.
 
The Cardinals will now have 11 days off, before they travel to face the Battlers of Alderson Broaddus on Thursday, Dec. 30, at 7 p.m.

 
-GoCards-
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