For the second consecutive year, the Genesee Community College men’s basketball season came to an end at the hands of Mercyhurst North East. Last season, the Saints eliminated the Cougars in the semi-finals of the Region III playoffs. This year, Mercyhurst held serve at home on Tuesday night in the #4/#5 match up of the opening round.
The two teams split the regular season series this year with both teams winning a game at home.
Mercyhurst, the no. 4 seed, shot better than 54% in the opening half on Tuesday night including eight 3-point baskets. The Saints erased an early 5-0 GCC lead, and after not scoring a basket during the first three minutes of the game, connected on three quick baskets from long-range to take the lead for good.
The #5 Cougars found themselves behind by ten, 37-27 with under five minutes remaining in the opening period and gave up a 15-9 run during the final four minutes of the half to fall behind 52-36 at the break.
GCC clawed back early in the second half and cut the Saints lead down to single digits just four minutes in. Stanley Peacock got the Cougars to within nine with a layup and after a made Mercyhurst basket, GCC converted on three straight free throws to close the gap to eight.
Mercyhurst responded and went on a 7-0 run in a span of just over a minute to extend their lead back to double-digits. The Saints grew their lead back up to as much as 16 with 12 minutes remaining, but the Cougars still had fight left in them.
Maurice Bailey connected on back-to-back three point baskets and E.J. Blackwell added a three of his own to get Genesee to within 11. Trailing 77-67 with under ten minutes to play, Donte Meredith got the Cougars back to within eight with a layup.
GCC cut the Mercyhurst lead to four just two minutes later before Terryl Coombs converted a layup to bring the Cougars all the way back to within two with 3:30 left to play. The Saints answered, and regained a lead as high as six with two minutes left in the game.
Genesee put together a quick 6-2 run to get back to within two at 92-90 with one minute remaining. Forced to put the Saints at the free throw line, Genesee was able to inch to within one at 95-94 when Vaughn Boler scored after Mercyhurst hit one of two free throws. The Saints converted on two free throws with less than ten seconds to play and trailing by three, the Cougars were unable to get off a final shot and a chance at the tie, falling to Mercyhurst, 97-94.
The Cougars out-rebounded the Saints 52-33 on the night, but Mercyhurst shot better than 55% from the field in the game.
Boler led the way for Genesee with 24 points. He also grabbed 10 rebounds. Blackwell added 19 points, Coombs finished with 12 points and 11 boards, Bailey chipped in 16 points and Peacock collected six rebounds.
Genesee finishes the season with a 15-16 overall mark and will bid farewell to sophomores Donte Meredith and Terryl Coombs.
