MORRISVILLE, N.Y. – The Morrisville State College men's basketball team rebounded from their conference setback on Wednesday, overwhelming the visiting Bison on the glass as they collected the 79-63 North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) victory over Gallaudet University on the Mustangs home court Saturday afternoon.
With the win, the Mustangs add another to the win column, improving to 10-2 in the NEAC, 12-8 overall. Gallaudet drops to 6-14, 6-6 within conference play.
Despite the Bison holding the edge over Morrisville State in points scored in the paint, the Mustangs held a game advantage 28-10 in second chance opportunities as they outgained Gallaudet 46-29 on the glass, including 18-9 in offensive boards.
The forward duo of Kevin Dennis (Bronx, N.Y.) and Brison Hall (Syracuse, N.Y.) combined for 22 rebounds, 11 on the offensive glass, while contributing 29 points for the double-doubles, Dennis a team high 17.
Tyrin Miller (White Plains, N.Y.) also notched double digits, netting 16, adding five rebounds and two steals.
Steve Dolgos (Geneva, N.Y.) came off the bench to add eight points, hitting two from beyond the arch, while dishing out a team high four assists on the afternoon.
Preston Kelly led Gallaudet with 19 points, with teammates Andy Cruz and Jamal Garner each contributing 13 apiece. Cruz also tallied seven assists and six rebounds.
Morrisville State attacked the inside game out of the gates and built up a double-digit lead midway through the opening half, and followed with a 10-2 run in the final three minutes of the period to carry the 42-25 lead into the break.
Fifteen of the Mustangs points came off second chance opportunities as they held the 12-3 benefit on the offensive boards.
After increasing their lead to 18 early on in the second period, Gallaudet chipped away at the Mustang lead and was able to close the gap to seven midway through the half, before Morrisville State rattled off a 14-3 spurt to regain a significant lead late in the contest.
The Bison rallied to knock the Mustang lead down to 13, but ran out of time as the hosts claimed the 79-63 final.
Morrisville State drained 11 from long range across the afternoon, seven in the second half as they finished hitting 42.3% from beyond the arc, and 45.9% from the floor on the day.
Gallaudet was held to just 39.7% shooting, and just four three's (21.1%).
The Mustangs return to the court tomorrow, hosting Penn St. Abington at noon at the Student Activities Gymnasium.
Morrisville State College's curricula are enriched with applied learning and pave the way for opportunity at both the Morrisville and Norwich campuses. An action-oriented, interactive learning lab, the college is a national leader in technology and has been lauded for its exemplary, innovative and effective community service programs.
The college was ranked among the Best Regional Colleges in the North by U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges 2018 issue and was also recognized in the Top Public Schools, Regional Colleges North in the 2018 Best Colleges rankings. For more information about Morrisville State College, visit www.morrisville.edu.
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