ROSEMONT – In Rosemont's first CSAC game of the season, the host Neumann Knights (11-9, 8-5 CSAC) held off a late run by a hungry Ravens team (10-10, 8-5 CSAC) to win by three points. Fast forward to tonight, it was a still-hungry Rosemont team that would try to defend their undefeated conference home record against the Knights but the result was unfortunately the same as their earlier match-up, with the Ravens again dropping a CSAC game to Neumann by the same margin, 71-68.
It was a well-played and tense game throughout, and each time the Ravens assembled a rally to take a lead, the Knights would answer. The game would feature 14 lead-changes and six tie scores. With the teams playing close throughout, the focus was on the fast few moments of the game.
Trailing the Knights by five points, 59-54 with 5:19 left, free throws and a bucket by Nadir Stukes would get the Ravens to within 59-58. A three-point play from Dom Scafidi after the Ravens forced a Neumann shot clock violation would give Rosemont a 61-59 lead with 3:25 left.
Neumann would return the favor as Kevin Green took a pass from Andrew Moye to bury a trey to give the Knights the lead, 62-61 with 3:06 left. A Neumann bucket from James Butler off of a Kevin Green pass would put the visitors up by three points, 64-61 with 2:40 left.
Clayton Wolfe was fouled and converted both shots to keep the Ravens within a point at 64-63 with 2:13 left. Rosemont returned a missed Neumann jumper to once again take the lead when Nadir Stukes passed to Marcus Thomas who buried a three-ball from the corner to put the Ravens back in front 66-64 with 1:22 remaining.
Neumann again had an answer as Denzel Yard converted a three-point play on their next possession to wrest back a 67-66 advantage with 48 seconds left. Rosemont would not give up. Nadir Stukes was fouled and Stukes made both shots from the charity stripe to put Rosemont back up, 68-67 with 29 seconds on the clock. A key offensive rebound by Neumann's James Butler led to a put-back layup, giving Neumann the lead again, 69-68 with 10 ticks left on the clock.
The Ravens tried for a momentum-building three-ball on their next possession, but the shot was missed as Neumann grabbed the defensive rebound and salted the game away when Denzel Yard sunk two free throws to end the scoring.
The Knights outscored the Ravens by two points (30-28) in the first half and only one point (41-40) in the second, a testament to how evenly balanced the two teams played tonight.
Rosemont placed four players in double-figures, led by Khai Roberts's 12. Dom Scafidi earned a double-double, scoring 11 with 10 rebounds. Nadir Stukes and Clayton Wolfe each notched 11 points.
Neumann also placed four in double-digits led by James Butler's 16. Kevin Green (15), Denzel Yard (12) and DeShawn Lowman (12) also hit double-figures for the Knights in tonight's game.
The Ravens will need to find a way to put together some strong efforts on the road in order to stay in touch with the rest of the CSAC teams who are scrambling for a potential playoff berth, as Rosemont is scheduled to play their next four straight away from the friendly confines of Alumnae Hall. Their first road challenge comes at Clarks Summit where they will be hosted by the Baptist Bible Defenders on Saturday, 2/7 at 3:00pm.
