Bernstein Dishes Out Career-Best 10 Assists in Win

CHESTERTOWN, MD -- Senior guard Dylan Bernstein (Laytonsville, MD/Gaithersburg) dished out a career-best 10 assists and matched his career high of nine points to lead host Washington College to a 78-72 Centennial Conference men's basketball win over visiting Swarthmore tonight inside Cain Athletic Center. The Shoremen trailed by 13 points in the second half before rallying for the victory.

Swarthmore (6-16, 3-14 Centennial) ended the first half on an 11-2 run to take a 40-32 lead into the intermission. The Garnet were a perfect 7-of-7 from the free-throw line during the first half, while the Shoremen (7-15, 6-9) were just 2-for-9.

The Garnet twice built a 13-point lead early in the second half, the second time on a Will Gates three-pointer that made the score 50-37 with 16:50 remaining. The Shoremen then went on a 28-12 run to take the a 65-62 lead on a pair of free throws by junior forward Chris Olsen (Ellicott City, MD/Mount St. Joseph) with 6:45 to go and a Bernstein jumper with 5:42 remaining. The Garnet twice trimmed the lead back to one point, the second time on a pair of free throws by Jordan Federer that made it 67-66 with 4:41 remaining. Washington then scored the next six points, capped off by a pair of free throws by Olsen with 2:22 remaining to push the lead to 72-66. The Shoremen led by at least four points the rest of the way. 

Bernstein orchestrated a balanced Washington offense that saw eight playes score between eight and 12 points a piece. Junior guard Kevin Breslin (Hagerstown, MD/St. Maria Goretti) paced the Shoremen with 12 points, while Olsen added nine points, eight rebounds, and four assists. Freshman guard Donovan Womack (Newark, DE/Delcastle) and sophomore forward Chris Soper (Poolesville, MD/Poolesville) also scored nine points each.

Jay Kober scored a game-best 22 points to lead the Garnet, while Gates finished with 13 points and eight rebounds. Federer and Jordan Martinez scored 12 points a piece. Martinez dished out four assists, while Federer had three assists and three steals. 

Washington held a 43-38 advantage on the glass in the game and shot 43% from the field to Swarthmore's 37%. Swarthmore finished the game 26-of-29 from the free-throw line, while the Shoremen were 19-of-29.

The Shoremen return to action Saturday with a 4:00 p.m. Centennial Conference home game against Gettysburg.