Box Score

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J.- Immaculata sophomore Mike Piekarski poured in a career-high 32 points for the Mighty Macs (12-13, 10-8 CSAC) in their regular season finale at Centenary on Saturday afternoon, but it was not enough in a 92-85 defeat for IU.  The Macs will now shift their attention to the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) postseason for the eighth consecutive season as they enter as the No. 5 seed and will travel to No. 4 Rosemont on Monday night for the quarterfinals.
 
Piekarski was 11-of-19 from the field and 9-for-11 from the free throw line while tying a team high with seven rebounds, and adding six steals and four assists.  Senior Roy Ferrell Jr. also had a solid game with 18 points and equaled Piekarski's seven boards.  Senior Matt Simon moved into sixth on the career scoring list at IU with 13 points to bring him to 818 for his four-year career.
 
Typically a strength for the Mighty Macs, three point shooting did IU in as they were 5-for-28 (17.9%) from beyond the arc, while the Cyclones were 11-for-24 from deep in what would turn out to be the difference in the game.
 
The Mighty Macs opened the scoring in this one with a bucket by Piekarski, but a Centenary three erased the only lead of the day for IU as the Cyclones took control of the contest from there.
 
IU struggled in the first half as they could not establish any rhythm offensively and the Cyclones took advantage, building up a 36-16 lead with 4:12 to go before halftime.  The Mighty Macs then went on a critical 17-7 run to close the half to get themselves back in the game before the half.
 
Piekarski scored eight of the points while Ferrell Jr. contributed six to spark the spurt and make it 43-33 Centenary at halftime.
 
IU surged after halftime too as they scored seven of the first 10 points behind buckets from Piekarski and Ferrell Jr., and a triple from senior Michael Griffin III to make it 46-40 early in the period.
 
Centenary responded and kept the Macs at arms' length.  A Ferrell Jr. layup with 11:24 to go in the game got IU closer at 68-63, and back-to-back buckets by Simon and freshman Jordan Ambrose put the Macs within one point at 68-67 with 10:45 remaining.
 
The Mighty Macs continued to battle and finally climbed out of the 20-point hole with free throws by Ferrell Jr. to tie the game at 73-73 with eight minutes remaining in the game.  The game would be tied three more times at 76, 78, and 80, the last one on a layup by Simon, but the Cyclones closed the final 4:29 of the game on a 12-5 run to put the game away.
 
IU will now shift their focus to the Colonial States Athletic Conference playoffs on Monday at Rosemont.