Men's Basketball Edged by Misericordia, 75-70

Box Score

BETHLEHEM, Penn. -- Despite a career-high 33-point effort from junior forward Nicholas Motta (Fairhaven, MA), the Bridgewater State College men's basketball team fell to Misericordia University, 75-70, in the consolation game of the Greyhound Starters Classic hosted by Moravian College.  

Motta, who was selected to the All-Tournament Team, connected on 13 of 22 field goal attempts and also added seven rebounds, two assists and two steals.  

Bridgewater State (3-5) also received 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists from junior guard Judah Jackson and 12 points from junior guard Corey Connor (Providence, RI).  Connor was 4 of 8 from three-point range.  

Sophomore forward Ethan Eichhorst (Drums, PA) earned all-tournament honors for Misericordia.  Eichhorst tallied 17 points on 7 of 11 shooting to go along with three steals.  Senior forward Dom Del Prete (Clarks Summit, PA) added 18 points, six rebounds and three steals.

The Cougars opened the game on an 8-0 run, including six points by Eichhorst, on the way to a 39-34 halftime advantage.  Motta had 17 points in the opening stanza

Bridgewater came out strong to start the second half and took and 51-50 lead on a Motta layup.  The advantage was shortlived however as freshman guard Sean Bieski (Nanticoke, PA) sank a jumper to put the Cougars back on top for good, 52-51, with 14:31 remaining.

Misericordia got up by as many as ten points (67-57) with 7:02 to play.  Bridgewater State rallied and cut the deficit to 71-68 with 2:02 remaining, but Eichhorst responded with a layup and the Bears made just 1 of 4 field goal attempts in the final two minutes.

Misericordia shot 54% (27-for-50) from the floor while Bridgewater State connected on 41% (28-for-68) of their field goal attempts.  The Bears also made just nine trips to the free throw line while the Cougars finished 19 of 29 from the charity stripe.