Pace Paw Print

Media Credit: Alex Pandolfi Together, Ryan Williams and Carlos Howard drained four out of the Setters' eight three pointers.

Dec. 4, Pleasantville- The last time the Saint Rose men's basketball team was in Pleasantville they barely escaped with a win over the Pace Setters.

It was during the Northeast 10 (NE-10) Conference tournament last March that the Golden Knights beat the Setters 82-81.

The Setters finally had a shot at revenge for that devastating loss last Tuesday. Unfortunately for the Setters, despite their best efforts this wasn't their night for vengeance as Saint Rose took down Pace 84-77.

In the first half of this epic battle the Setters were not looking their best when junior Golden Knights forward Evan Lane put down two shots within the game's first two minutes to give Saint Rose a 4-0 lead.

Regardless of things looking grim early on for Pace, the Setters struck right back when senior guard Ryan Williams dropped in a three pointer, giving Saint Rose only a one point 4-3 lead.

Williams' shot actually sparked off an 11-0 point run for the Setters after being down 4-0. The run ended after a lay up by sophomore forward Callum Jones who made the score 11-4.

Unfortunately for Pace, with a few costly turnovers and a few missed shots, that lead started to get tighter and before the midway point of the opening half both schools were tied at 17.

From then on the Golden Knights took control after two completed foul shots by sophomore guard Jermaine Clark, breaking the tie and giving Saint Rose a two point 19-17 lead.

It would just get worse for the Setters as the Golden Knights would continue to dominate, even extending their lead at one point to 16 before the first half ended.

The Setters would not let such a dominant lead hold before the end of the opening half. So with three minutes left on the clock sophomore guard Carlos Howard stole the ball and on a fast break made a lay up that helped bring down the Setters' deficit.

Jones would add the final touch for the Setters in the first half by elevating for a lay up and then making a free throw to end the first half with the score of 48-39 with the Golden Knights still in the lead.

Williams helped carry the Setters offense in the opening half with 13 points, while Shanty Robinson contributed 12 points to the Golden Knights.

With the Setters trying to claw back at the end of the first half the Golden Knights kept their distance by going on a 6-0 point run in the first three minutes of the final half.

The Setters continued to chip away at their double digit deficit and about midway into the second half a lay up by senior forward Desmond Quincy-Jones brought Saint Rose's lead down to eight with a 70-62 score.

Finally, with 2:48 left in the game the Setters found their way back to a three point 76-73 deficit after a crowd electrifying dunk by Quincy-Jones, making it a one possession game.

The Golden Knights had other plans in mind and put this game out of reach when they went on 4-0 point run in the final minutes, ultimately giving Saint Rose the 84-77 victory.

On the evening for the Setters Williams led the team in scoring with 21 points, nine of those coming from three pointers. Quincy Jones and junior forward Randy Wilson tied for a team high of rebounds and sophomore guard Laurence McGhee dished out a team high four assists.

For the Golden Knights, Lane put up a double-double performance totaling 15 points and 12 rebounds.

With the loss the Setters' record falls to 3-4 overall while maintaining a 3-2 record in the NE-10 conference. Saint Rose with the win improves to 4-2 overall with a 3-1 record in the NE-10.

The Setters men's basketball team has no more home games during the fall semester but continue to play on during the winter break when they play against Dominican during Pace's Holiday Classic on Dec. 28.

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