AMCATS Claw Rams on Senior Day

PAXTON, Mass. (02.18.12) – Paced by Brad Peterson's (North Kingston, RI) double-double, Anna Maria College defeated the Suffolk University men's basketball team 78-66, during The Great Northeast Athletic Conference regular season finale on Saturday afternoon at The Fuller Activities Center. With the win, the AMCATS finish the regular season with a mark of 12-13 overall and 10-8 in conference play, while the loss drops Suffolk to 9-16 on the year and 6-12 during GNAC play.

As part of Senior Day, Brad Peterson and Kevin McGee (Springfield, Mass.) were both honored before playing in their final home basketball game. Peterson poured in 13 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, had 4 blocks and sealed the victory with a dunk late in the second half. McGee starting in his second career game, opened the scoring for the AMCATS with a jumper from the top of the key and finished the AMC scoring converting two free-throws at the end of the game.

Also contributing in the victory, junior Anthony Click (Springfield, Mass.) had a game-high 20 points and 3 blocks, while freshman Hugh Daye (Worcester, Mass.) scored a career high 17 points on 8-for-12 shooting off the bench.

Meanwhile the Rams placed three players in double figures. Junior Matt Pepdjonovic (Quincy, Mass.) had 13 points and 12 rebounds and teammates Justin Barall (East Hampton, Conn.) and Chris Torres (Brockton, Mass.) each added 13 points.

The teams opened up the first stanza trading baskets with neither team gaining more than a 3 point advantage and after an AMC jumper by Hugh Daye at 14:22 the game was tied at 10-10. The AMCATS then went on a 17-9 run to take an eight point lead at 27-19 with nine minutes remaining in the half.  AMC would open up a ten point lead with just under seven minutes to play. However, the Rams responded with an 11-4 run and after Matt Pepdjonovic put back an offensive rebound at 2:31 Suffolk only trailed by 3, 39-36.

The AMCATS would finish the first twenty minutes with baskets by Anthony Click and Javier Bristol and carry a  43-36 lead into the locker rooms.

Suffolk opened up the second half on an 17-11 run that concluded with a Colin Halpin three pointer at 11:51 to make it a two point game at 55-53. The turning point of the game came next. The AMCATS grabbed two offensive rebounds in their zone and Anthony Click buried a shot from behind the arc on the third shot and Hugh Daye had a good jumper after a Suffolk miss to gain a seven point advantage at 60-53. Suffolk couldn't get closer than three points after that and AMC cruised down the stretch to the 78-66 victory.

Anna Maria has qualified for the GNAC tournament and will find out their destination on Monday.

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