CLARKS SUMMIT, Pa. – The Rosemont Ravens (11-10, 9-5 CSAC), in the midst of a mad eight-team scramble for the six available CSAC tournament playoff berths, needed a win on the road in what could have been considered a "danger game" against the Baptist Bible College Defenders (2-19, 1-13 CSAC). The Ravens did what they needed to do, pulling away from the host Defenders in the first half and holding on to take the 69-44 win.
Leading 19-15 with 12 minutes left in the first, neither team would score for the next 3 ½ minutes. Rosemont broke the scoring drought when Khai Roberts made a layup on an assist from Dom Scafidi to ignite the Ravens to outscore the Defenders 22-4 for the rest of the half to take a big 41-19 lead at the break. Baptist Bible did not hit a field goal over the last 7:38 of the half.
The Ravens survived a stretch in the 2nd half when they went over 7 ½ minutes between field goals by Jeff Padilioni (14:29) and Dyshon Pack (6:54). The Ravens' lead would slip to less than 20 points, but Rosemont weathered the storm by playing tough defense to ensure that Baptist Bible's offense never seriously would threaten. The Ravens would exert their control again in the last quarter of the game to be the run-out winners, outscoring the Defenders 28-25 in the 2nd stanza.
Dyshon Pack scored 12 points, half from the charity stripe, to be the Ravens' top scorer on the afternoon. Khai Roberts, who played only 14 minutes of today's game, was the second-leading scorer for Rosemont with 11 points. Nadir Stukes scored nine with five steals and five assists. Both Dom Scafidi and Marcus Thomas scored nine with four assists.
Baptist Bible's Abe Valentine scored 19 points, and was the only Defender to reach double-figures.
With the first of their four straight CSAC road games behind them, the Ravens look to their second road challenge. That will come on Monday evening at Hackettstown, NJ against the Centenary Cyclones. After several postponements, it will be the first time the two teams will play this season. Game time is scheduled for an 8:00pm start.
