Spirited second half push for SSU men falls just shy in 83-80 loss to unblemished Point Park (Pa.)
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Shawnee State (4-4, 1-1 RSC) | 33 | 47 | 80 |
|
Point Park (9-0, 2-0 RSC) | 53 | 30 | 83 |
Having already made significant second-half comebacks in three out of its four victories to begin the 2023-24 season, the Shawnee State men's basketball team nearly made an unbeaten opponent feel its second-half wrath for the second time this year.
Down by 20 points (53-33) at the halftime break to an unbeaten Point Park program that had won seven of its eight affairs by double-digit margins coming into Saturday afternoon's affair against the Pioneers, Shawnee State again showed its ability to compete with all comers on a nightly basis as the Bears went on a 33-17 spurt to begin the second half to cut Point Park's large lead all the way down to a 70-66 margin with 6:55 to play, then rallied from a 77-68 deficit by going on a 12-6 push that gave SSU an opportunity to send the game to overtime on the game's final possession.
In the final 15 seconds, however, Point Park was able to hang on, as two Shawnee State three-point attempts ultimately did not connect in a frenzied and fantastic River States Conference affair that was held in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Shawnee State again showcased good offensive efficiency as the Bears shot 47.1 percent from the field (33-for-70), went 6-for-16 from three-point range (37.5 percent), and turned the ball over just eight times over the 40-minute affair. The Bears also matched Point Park pound-for-pound physically inside, matching the Pioneers in total rebounds with 40 aside and total blocks with five despite the Pioneers featuring 7-2 Jags Jarwar and 6-10 Nazareth Fisher in the low post.
Additionally, the Bears notched more points in the paint than the Pioneers by a sizeable margin (48-34), held the edge on second-chance points (15-9), and held an 18-9 advantage in total bench points in the contest.
Beard balls out again
Playing perhaps the finest basketball of his career, Shawnee State guard Tre Beard was unshakeable throughout the 40-minute affair.
Despite Point Park's first-half explosion, Beard never relented and helped keep the Bears in the game with an efficient nine-point first half on 4-for-7 shooting from the field. The Chillicothe native then exploded in the second half, helping lead Shawnee State back with a 13-point second half performance while going 6-for-10 from the field in the second half of play.
When Shawnee State fell behind by the aforementioned 77-68 margin after cutting the lead to 70-66 in the latter stages of the second half, Beard responded by scoring or assisting on 10 consecutive Shawnee State points -- which was paramount in giving the Bears a chance to come out victorious from the beginning.
In addition to finishing with a career-high 22 points to go along with three rebounds on an efficient 10-for-17 shooting from the floor, Beard didn't turn the ball over a single time in the contest in 32 minutes of gametime action.
Germain grinds out double-double
Overcoming a rougher than normal start to the affair for his individual sake, Keith Germain finished Saturday's contest with a bang.
The senior forward from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. had five points and two rebounds at the half, but Germain exploded in the second half of competition with a 10-point, eight-rebound outing. He scored eight consecutive points from the 10:47 to 8:27 marks of the second half of play to bring Shawnee State within 68-63 earlier on in the second half, and added a bucket inside with 39 seconds to go through contact that cut the Point Park lead to an 83-80 count that was vital in giving SSU a chance at the end.
Ultimately, Germain finished with yet another double-double, amassing 17 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks on 7-for-15 shooting from the field.
Dawson, Johnson provide steady play up top
Upperclassman guards Tyreke Johnson and John Dawson, much like Beard, have been key to Shawnee State's success throughout the season so far.
Over the final 6:55 of play in the second half of competition, Johnson scored eight of his 17 points -- including a pair of treys during that stretch that kept the Bears right in the thick of the fight. Johnson also added in four rebounds and two assists in both halves to ultimately finish with 17 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals -- all while turning the ball over just twice en route to notching a two-to-one assist-to-turnover ratio.
Dawson, meanwhile, was efficient and therefore key off of the bench for the Bears in both halves. In 20 minutes of play, Dawson notched 11 points and three rebounds on 5-for-9 shooting from the floor -- notching five points on 2-for-4 shooting in the opening half of competition and another six points on 3-for-5 shooting in the second half of play. The Huntington, W. Va. product also did not turn the basketball over a single time during his time on the floor for Shawnee State.
Additional
Shawnee State (4-4, 1-1 RSC) will return to Waller Gymnasium Tuesday evening to cap off doubleheader action against fellow NAIA state foe Wilberforce. The contest, which follows the Shawnee State-Wilberforce women's basketball matchup, will commence at approximately 7:30 p.m.
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