Shelton and Drury Net Team-High 16 Points; Shelton Sets Career-Best In Points

SWARTHMORE, Pa. – Host Swarthmore got a game-best 20 points from Zack Yonda in an 81-70 victory over visiting Washington College at Tarble Pavilion in a Centennial Conference men's basketball game on Wednesday night.  The Garnet improves to 8-10 overall and 4-7 in the Centennial, while the Shoremen drop to 2-16 and 2-9 respectively.

In the first half, the Shoremen led 4-2 with 15:09 left after two free throws by Dave Knox (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South) before the Garnet scored the next eight points to take a 10-4 lead with 13:22 left on a lay-in by Andrew Kaufmann.  Swarthmore would push its lead to 14 points at 25-11 with 7:06 remaining on a free throw by Kaufmann.  Trailing 27-15 with 6:01 remaining, the Shoremen scored 13 straight points to take a 28-27 lead with 3:15 to go in the half on two free throws by freshman guard Tas Dixon (Ardmore, Pa./Harriton).  Swarthmore would score the last four points of the first half to take a 40-36 lead into halftime.

The Shoremen scored the opening bucket of the second half to cut the Swarthmore lead to 40-38 just 19 ticks in on a jumper by senior guard John Weston (Tampa, Fla./Bolles School).  The hosts would respond with an 11-2 run to take a 51-40 with 17:02 left on two Yonda free throws.  The Garnet would push their lead to 13 at 57-44 with 13:23 to go on a Robbie Walsh layup.  The Shoremen would get it within seven points on four occasions, the last time being at 73-66 with 2:16 remaining on a three-pointer by freshman guard Joey Shelton (Garnet Valley, Pa./Church Farm School), but could draw no closer as the Garnet came away with an 11 point win.

Joining Yonda in double figures in scoring for Swarthmore were Charles Bourne with 13 points and a game-high nine rebounds, and Sean Thaxter with 11 points.   Shane Loeffler passed out four assists to lead all players.  The Garnet shot 61% from the floor (28-for-46), 50% from three-point range (6-for-12) and 66% at the foul line (19-for-29).  The Garnet held a 39-22 advantage in rebounds and had 21 of the game's 25 second-chance points.  The hosts also held a 40-20 edge in points in the paint.

Sophomore guard James Drury (Jenkintown, Pa./Germantown Academy) and Shelton each had 16 points to lead Washington, with Shelton setting his personal best in points.  Junior forward Pat Morgan (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) added 14 points, while tying his career-high with a game-best three steals.  The Shoremen shot 35% from the floor (17-for-49), 30% from three-point territory (6-for-20) and 75% from the foul stripe (30-for-40).  The guests turned it over just 10 times, while forcing the Garnet into 18 turnovers.  WC outscored Swarthmore 13-11 in points off turnovers.

There were 64 fouls called in the game, 36 on the Garnet and 28 on the Shoremen.

The Shoremen will travel to #5 Dickinson on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. in Centennial Conference action.