Box Score
IMMACULATA, Pa. – John Boyd and Eric Barefield each scored 18 points to lead four starters in double figures as Immaculata defeated visiting Gwynedd-Mercy, 66-60, in a pivotal CSAC men’s basketball contest inside Alumnae Hall Friday night.
Immaculata (12-8, 10-3 CSAC) moves into second place, one-half game ahead of idle Keystone College, while Gwynedd-Mercy (10-10, 9-4) falls one game back and into fourth place. The win avenges a loss to the Griffins earlier in the season as the two schools split their two regular-season meetings.
The Mighty Macs erased an 11-point halftime deficit, shooting 52.2 percent from the field (12-for-23) and outscoring the Griffins, 40-23. Barefield netted 12 of his 18 in the second half and Nelson Torres potted eight of his 11 points after the break. Robert Siter was the other Mighty Mac starter in double figures with 12 points.
Boyd poured in 13 of his 18 points in the first half thanks to a 3-for-5 showing from beyond the 3-point arc. When Gwynedd-Mercy switched its attention to Boyd after halftime, Barefield and Torres picked up their game.
The Griffins shot just 25.9 percent out of the locker room and went the last 8:20 without a bucket from the field. Gwynedd-Mercy missed its last 12 shots of the game.
The visitors held a 15-point lead (45-30) 3:16 into the second half when Immaculata went on a 20-5 run to knot the score at 50-all with 11:20 remaining.
The Mighty Macs scored 12 unanswered points over a four-minute span that pulled them to within one (47-46) with 13:03 to play. Boyd knocked down all three free throws after being fouled taking a 3-point shot, before Barefield converted a pair of layups to fuel the run.
Trai Hawkins hit a three for Gwynedd to end the drought and push the visitor’s lead to four. However, Barefield nailed two free throws and Torres buried a jumper in the lane to even the score at 50-50.
The Griffins regrouped with four straight points to give themselves a short-lived advantage. Immaculata answered back with six straight point to take a 56-54 lead. The Griffins’ Brandon Sharp hit a jumper in the lane that proved to be the visitors’ last field goal at the 8:20 mark that tied the game at 56.
The Mighty Macs would score five of the next seven points in the game and move out to a 61-57 lead that it would never relinquish.
Jon Hogga led Gwynedd-Mercy with 18 points. Matt Johnson posted 13 for the Griffins as well.
Immaculata returns to action on Monday night in another battle for second place when the Mighty Macs travel to Keystone College for a 7 p.m. tip. The Mighty Macs defeated the Giants, 70-57, at Alumnae Hall on Jan. 18.