JWU Rolls Past Men's Basketball, 103-62

PAXTON, Mass.—The Johnson & Wales University men's basketball team rolled over the AMCATS of Anna Maria College 103-62 en route to their 18^th-straight victory and 12^th-straight win in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action.

The win boosts JWU to 18-1 on the season and 12-0 in league play, while the loss drops Anna Maria to 10-9 overall and 6-6 in GNAC action.  

THE SERIES

Johnson & Wales brings their series record to 7-5 all-time against the AMCATS. The Wildcats have won two-in-row against Anna Maria. The AMCATS last win was last season and was a 77-74 win at JWU.

AMCAT LEADERS

Anna Maria was paced offensively by senior Patrick Bradanese (Billerica, Mass.) with 13 points. Classmate Corey Pryor (Whitinsville, Mass.) added 11 points off the bench alongside freshman Manny Payton (Fitchburg, Mass.), who scored 10 points to reach double-figures for the first time this season.

JOHNSON & WALES LEADERS

Quarry Greenaway led all scorers with 23 points on a 9-for-17 effort from the floor with an additional four points at the free-throw line. Anthony Jernigan chipped in with 19 points, while Tom Garrick and Jarrell Lawson both finished with 17 points.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The AMCATS matched the Wildcats for the first six minutes of the game, but a pesky Wildcat press, fouls, and turnovers plagued Anna Maria in the first half. Anna Maria sent JWU to the free-throw line seven times in the first 11 minutes of the game, allowed them to score nine points with the clock stopped.

The Wildcats would hold Anna Maria scoreless for over three-and-a-half minutes in the second part of the half while building a 25-point lead. JWU would hold their largest lead of 39 points with 1:35 remaining. JWU led 59-24 at halftime.

Despite their struggles, Anna Maria managed to rebound effectively and were edged by one, 21-10 overall and 15-14 on defensive boards.

Anna Maria opened the second half on a 9-0 run but still had big ground to cover. Rebounding proofed to be the crux of the AMCATS in the second half, as they were outrebounded 25-13 over the course of the frame.

FINAL COMPARISONS

The Wildcats nailed an impressive 38 field goals (38-76) to shoot at 50 percent on the day. Anna Maria hit 25 of 67 attempts and finished at a 37.3 percent efficiency. Anna Maria matched the JWU with 16 second-half field goals.

JWU totaled 34 fast-break points and 16 second-chance points, while scoring 36 points off of turnovers. Anna Maria finished with two, 10, and nine points each in those respective categories.

WHAT'S NEXT

The AMCATS return to action on February 3^rd when they host Suffolk at 7:00 p.m.