Springfield, MA: The Ramapo College men's basketball team advanced to the championship game of the Hampton Inn Holiday Classic with a come-back win over Colby College tonight, 76-70, at host Western New England University. The Roadrunners remain undefeated with a 3-0 overall record while the Mules drop to 3-1 overall.
The Roadrunners overcame a 45-29 first half deficit with a 15-0 run that lasted five minutes to open the second half. The run was capped off with a jumper from
Peter Gorman which brought Ramapo within one, 44-45. During the run
Anthony Corbo and
Shane Rooney each tallied four points while
Jordan Myers added three and
Justin Bladen and Gorman each posted two. Colby then knocked down back-to-back three-pointers and a jumper to stretch their lead back out to nine, 53-44 with 12 minutes on the clock. Another 15-2 run by the Roadrunners gave them a 61-57 lead with 6:10 remaining. The run was started by Gorman with a layup before Colby added two points.
Tim Linton and Gorman each converted a pair of free throws before Corbo put in a layup and was fouled. Corbo sank his free throw to come within two before Linton put down a dunk and an and-one play to take a 60-57 lead. Gorman capped off the run with a free throw for a 61-57 score. A 6-2 run from Colby tied the game at 63 with under four minutes to play before a free throw from Corbo, a steal from Bladen and run out layup from Rooney extended the Roadrunner lead, 66-63. The two teams traded baskets while a dunk from Rooney with 1:39 on the clock gave Ramapo a five point lead, 70-65. With 33 seconds on the clock Gorman was sent to the line sinking a pair of free throws while Corbo did the same with 19 seconds remaining for a 74-66 lead. The Mules added a pair of free throws and a jumper sandwiched between a pair of free throws from Bladen as the Roadrunners came away with a big non-conference victory.
Gorman led the Roadrunners with 22 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals. Corbo finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and two steals and
Shane Rooney added 12 points and four rebounds. Linton added ten points while Bladen tallied eight points, four rebounds and two steals. Myers led the team with 10 rebounds while adding five points. Ramapo shot 40% (25-62) from the floor in the game, 14% (2-14) from the three-point line and 77% (24-31) from the free throw line. The Roadrunner defense forced 14 Mule turnovers which led to 22 points for the Roadrunners.
The Mules were led by Marcos Montiel who scored 20 points including four three-pointers while Sam Hinman added 16 points including three three-pointers. Max Poulton contributed with 12 points, five rebounds and five assists while Jack Lawson pulled down a team high seven rebounds and added four points and five assists. The team shot 35% (23-64) from the field, 31% (14-44) from beyond the three-point line and 58% (10-17) from the free throw line in the game.
Ramapo will return to action tomorrow afternoon against host Western New England University in the championship game at 2:00pm.
