Slow second half stifles Men’s Basketball at La Roche

PITTSBURGH --- Carlow University men's basketball lost a 92-82 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference contest at La Roche University Wednesday.

The Celtics (3-13, 2-6 AMCC) shot better from the field at 56.6 percent (30 for 53), but the Redhawks (6-11, 3-5 AMCC) held the advantage on the boards, outrebounding Carlow 32-19 on the night.

Nehemiah Brazil (Pittsburgh, Pa./Nazareth Prep HS) tied his season-high with a game-high 23 points and dished out five assists. Byron Gaskins (Woodbridge, Va./Christ Chapel Academy) and Jordan Cannon (Cleveland, Ohio/Lutheran East/West Virginia Wesleyan) tallied 13 and 12 points, respectively, and Riley Comforti (Scottdale, Pa./Southmoreland HS) contributed 10 points off the bench.

Both teams garnered marginal leads throughout the first half, with Carlow scoring 12 of its first 19 points from beyond the arc. Trailing 39-35, a jumper by Clayton Cook (Brookville, Pa./Brookville Area HS) set off a 7-0 run for the Celtics at the end of the half, giving Carlow a five point lead at the intermission.

The teams traded leads, and although La Roche pulled ahead, the Celtics kept it close through the second half. A 7-2 run over the span of two-and-a-half minutes gave the Redhawks an 11-point advantage, but a three-pointer from Devin Lewis (Warrenton, Va./Fauquier HS/Pitt Bradford) brought the difference back to single digits with just over a minute remaining in regulation.

Two free throws put La Roche up 92-82, and neither team scored in the final minute of the game. La Roche outscored Carlow 53-38 in the second half.

Carlow outscored La Roche 38-34 in the paint and 20-18 off the bench.

Bryce Epps led the Redhawks with 22 points, and four other players recorded double figures in the win.

The Celtics host Penn State Behrend for an AMCC game Jan. 28.