AMCATS advance to TCCC Semifinals with win over Scots
PAXTON, Mass. (02.22.11) – Junior Brad Peterson (North Kingstown, R.I.) poured-in 25 points on 11-of-13 shooting from the floor, while freshman Joseph Barillo (Dania Beach, Fla.) scored a career-high 18 points to help lead the Anna Maria College men's basketball team to a 93-79 victory over Gordon College during the quarterfinal round of The Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament at The Fuller Activities Center this Tuesday. The AMCATS are now 18-8 overall on the year and will advance to host Salve Regina during the semifinals on Thursday night. The loss knocks the Scots from the Tournament and drops their overall mark to 11-15.
Peterson had a terrific game, adding nine rebounds to go along with his team high 25 points. Barillo finished the game 6-of-10 from the floor, including four three-pointers, while senior Junior De La Hoz (Lawrence, Mass.) had 16 points and a team-high eight assists. Senior Chris Pinsonault (Marlboro, Mass.) also played well, netting 13 points with seven rebounds and five assists, while sophomore Anthony Click (Springfield, Mass.) contributed 11 points, seven assists, six rebounds, three blocks, and two steals in the win.
The Scots were paced by sophomore David Dempsey (Wallingford, Conn.) who led all scorers with 32 points on 14-of-18 shooting from the field. Freshman Park Thomas (Glendale, Ariz.) came on late to finish with 19 points, knocking down 4-of-8 attempts from beyond the arc, while seniors Greg Walker (Uxbridge, Mass.) and Austin Bentson (Branchville, N.J.) each scored eight points, as Bentson also dished out a game-high nine assists in the loss.
The AMCATS started slow out of the gates, as the Fighting Scotts shot their way to an early 13-5 lead in the first five minutes of play.
Anna Maria then responded with an 8-0 run, feeding off the rambunctious crowd, en route to taking their first lead of the game at 15-13. Brad Peterson was instrumental during the run, accounting for six of the eight points, while also adding two rebounds.
After consecutive buckets by the visitors put the Fighting Scots up by two, Joseph Barillo buried a three-pointer from the corner off a feed from Junior De La Hoz to give the AMCATS an 18-17 advantage with 11:16 remaining in the first half. From that point forward, Anna Maria never relinquished the lead.
With 7:29 remaining in the half, the AMCATS erupted to score nine unanswered points, opening up a 10-point cushion. Peterson was again a key factor during the run, contributing four points, while Chris Pinsonault added the other five.
The two teams traded buckets the rest of the half, as the AMCATS entered the locker room holding a 48-39 advantage.
A huge factor in the first-half lead for Anna Maria was points from the bench. The AMCAT reserves outscored Gordon by a 16-5 advantage, as freshman Joseph Barillo accounted for 14 of the 16 points on clutch shooting from beyond the arc.
The teams came out in the second-half evenly matched, as both teams refused to give in.
With the score standing at 56-45, Anna Maria put some more distance between them and the Fighting Scots with a 6-0 run. The highlight of the run was Javier Bristol's hard-earned lay-up. Anthony Click fed Bristol on a slash to basket. Bristol took the Click feed and buried a fade-away lay-up that sent the crowd into an uproar.
Down 17, Gordon refused to go quietly. Park Thomas drained a three-pointer and a jumper, while David Dempsey added a jumper of his own to cut the AMCAT lead down to 62-52.
Brad Peterson put an end to the Gordon run with consecutive lay-ups of his own. The AMCATS then received clutch three-point and free-throw shooting down the stretch from Junior De La Hoz to seal the 93-79 victory.
The AMCATS return to the hardwood on Thursday night at 7:00 pm when they host Salve Regina University at The Fuller Activities Center in the TCCC Tournament Semifinals.
