Box Score

IMMACULATA, Pa.- In a tight Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) contest that featured 16 lead changes in Alumnae Hall on Wednesday night, Neumann (11-6, 7-3 CSAC) broke open the tight contest late and went on to defeat the Mighty Macs (6-11, 5-5 CSAC) by a score of 83-75.  Junior Roy Ferrell Jr. poured in a season-high 31 points on 12-of-19 shooting from the field, including 4-for-4 from three-point range, but it wasn't enough.
 
The Macs also got contributions from freshman Mike Piekarski with 15 points, eight boards, and three steals, and senior Rodney Duncan off the bench with 12 points and four assists.  The Mighty Macs did a great job defensively in the first half of limiting Neumann to just 41.9% shooting from the field, but the Knights exploded in the second half and were 16-for-28 (57.1%) after the break while outscoring IU 48-36.
 
The game was played very close early on, but IU took a 16-15 lead with 13:24 to go in the first half, and would maintain the lead for more than half the game.  Ferrell Jr. laid one in and junior Michael Griffin III (6 points, 3 rebounds) hit a three to extend the lead out to 21-15.
 
Neumann would whittle it down again and eventually tie the game at 23-23, but the Macs exploded for a 13-2 run to take their largest lead of the game at 11 points.  Freshman Sean Dougherty (5 points) started it with a lay-up, followed by one from Ferrell Jr. to get the lead to four points.  Piekarski hit a pair of free throws, junior Matt Simon laid one in, and Ferrell Jr. scored the final five points to get the advantage up to 11.
 
They would lead 39-28 with 2:12 to go before the break, but Neumann ripped off seven straight to make it 39-35 at halftime.
 
Neumann finally took the lead back at 48-46 with 15:20 to go, which started a stretch of nine minutes where neither team led by more than three points.  The lead changed seven times over that time period, with big shots from Dougherty with a three to put them up 58-57 at the midway point of the second half.
 
Neumann would then take the lead back and hold onto it at 65-62 with 5:59 to go, but Duncan tied the game for the 11^th time with 4:21 to go with a big-time triple from the right wing.
 
However, the Knights would go on an 11-2 run over the next 2:50 to take a nine point lead, their largest of the game, and they would salt the game away to top the Macs by eight, 83-75.
 
IU will remain home this weekend and welcome in Centenary for a 3 p.m. tip on Saturday afternoon.