Box Score

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J.- After a tight back-and-forth first half that saw 14 lead changes, the Immaculata men's basketball team (3-8, 2-2 CSAC) trailed 38-36 at Centenary (7-4, 3-1 CSAC) at the break and were unable to regain the lead in an 81-64 defeat in their first game back from the holiday break.  The Mighty Macs tried to do it from deep as they took a program-record 35 three-pointers, but converted just 11 attempts (31.4%).
 
Junior Michael Griffin III led the team with 16 points (4-for-9 three-pointers), while junior Roy Ferrell Jr. moved into eight on the career scoring list at Immaculata with 14 points to move him to 635 overall.  Freshman Jimmy Markham netted a career-best 11 points.  Junior Mike Sturdivant Jr. had a solid game in his first start with nine points, while senior Ron Melton and freshman Mike Piekarski each tied for the team lead with six boards.
 
Sophomore Will Chapman led the squad with three assists.
 
The first half was played very tight with 14 lead changes and five ties.  The Macs took a quick 5-1 lead on a triple by Melton and lay-in by Sturdivant Jr., and IU would stay in front until the Cyclones tied it at 7-7 with 13:49 to go before halftime.
 
Trailing 10-7, the Mighty Macs ripped off eight straight points to take a 15-10 advantage eight minutes into the game.  Piekarski and Griffin III each nailed threes while Melton knocked down a jumper.  IU would keep the lead and grow it to as large as six at 23-17 on a jumper by Markham with 6:56 to go in the first, but the Cyclones would then fight back.
 
In the final six minutes, the score would change hands 10 times with neither team leading by more than three.  Centenary would take a three point advantage at 38-35 heading to the locker room.
 
The Cyclones controlled the second half and would pull away by outscoring the Macs 43-29 after the break to claim the CSAC contest.
 
The Macs kept it close early in the stanza, trimming it to a two-point deficit after a triple by Ferrell Jr. to make it 40-38.  Trailing 47-44, the Cyclones went on a pivotal 9-0 run to grow their lead to 56-44 with 13 minutes remaining.
 
The lead would grow to 60-46, but the Macs weren't going down easily as they went on an 8-0 run on the strength of five points from Markham and three by Ferrell Jr. to make it 60-54 with nine minutes going.
 
The Cyclones then charged back and never let the Macs get any closer and iced the game away at the line for an 81-64 decision.
 
The Macs will return home on Thursday to host Cairn at 8 p.m.