Morgan Scores 19 Points in Loss for Shoremen

HAVERFORD, Pa. --  Host Haverford College never trailed, but withstood a second-half charge by visiting Washington College en route to a 75-69 Centennial Conference men's basketball victory tonight in Haverford, Pa. The Fords improved to 3-12 overall and 5-17 with the win, while the Shoremen fell to 3-12 and 3-19 with the loss. 

The Fords jumped out to a 20-7 lead midway through the first half and took a 38-29 lead into halftime. Gibby Gaves extended that lead to 40-29 with a lay-up 34 seconds into the second half before the Shoremen ran off a 17-7 spurt to pull within one point on a jumper by junior forward Dave Knox (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South) with 11:46 remaining. Matt Sherman answered for Haverford 32 seconds later with a three-pointer to push the lead to four points at 50-46. The Shoremen later cut the lead to one point on three more occasions in the next nine minutes, the last of those coming on a jumper by junior forward Pat Morgan (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) with 2:18 to go, slicing the margin to 65-64.

After a Haverford timeout, Graves converted a lay-up with 1:45 left to stretch the lead back to three at 67-64. Morgan then made the second of two free throws  with 1:12 remaining as the Fords' lead was dialed back to two at 67-65. James Levine knocked down a three-pointer for the Fords with 39 seconds to go as Haverford staked out a 70-65 advantage. Morgan misfired on a three for the Shoremen 16 seconds later and Lucas Colombo grabbed the rebound and was fouled. Colombo knocked down both attempts with 18 seconds left as the lead grew to seven and the Fords sealed the win. A Sherman free throw for Haverford with 13 seconds remaining, a Knox lay-up for the Shoremen with six seconds to go, wo more free throws for Sherman with four seconds left, and a lay-up by Washington senior guard John Weston (Tampa, Fla./Bolles School) at the buzzer provided the final margin. 

Graves finished the game with 18 points, nine rebounds, and five assists for Haverford, sharing game-high scoring honors with teammate Anthony Reyes, who scored his 18 goals in just 20 minutes off the Fords' bench. Sherman added 16 points and five assists, while Colombo had nine points and 12 boards for the Fords.

Morgan led all scorers with 19 points in the loss for the Shoremen, while Weston added 14. Knox finished with 12 points and a game-best 15 rebounds. Sophomore guard James Drury (Jenkintown, Pa./Germantown Academy) chipped in 12 points of his own.

Haverford shot 46% in the win to Washington's 41% and held a 40-35 rebounding advantage in the victory.

The Shoremen will host their Senior Day this Saturday as they welcome Ursinus to Cain Athletic Center for a 4:00 p.m. Centennial Conference game.