Big first half carries McDaniel to 65-49 win over Salisbury in Provident semis
BALTIMORE, Md. – Chris Prior (Westminster, Md./Westminster) recorded his first collegiate double-double with career and game highs of 18 points and 15 rebounds to lead McDaniel to a 65-49 victory over Salisbury in the semifinals of the 2007 Provident Pride of Maryland semifinals in non-conference men’s basketball action on Saturday.
Prior had seven of his points and nine of his rebounds in the decisive first half, which saw the Green Terror (2-0) open up a 34-13 advantage and hold the Sea Gulls (2-2) to just 4 of 22 shooting in the half.
With the win, McDaniel advances to the championship game after playing in the third-place game in each of the first two years of the tournament. The Green Terror takes on the winner of the St. Mary’s (Md.)-Hood game at Johns Hopkins on Sunday.
Jonas Vaitkus finished with 11 points to lead Salisbury, who shot 40.9 percent for the game after converting 14 of its 22 second-half attempts.
Kevin Henry (Potomac, Md./Bullis School) knocked down the first two baskets for McDaniel for half of his eight points.
After a Greg Palmer free throw and Todd Ostrom jumper cut the deficit to 4-3 with 15:42 to play, the Green Terror scored 30 of the half’s final 40 points.
Seven different players scored, including eight from Robert Koebke’s (Silver Spring, Md./St. John’s), who finished with a career-high 12 points. McDaniel also held a 29-15 advantage on the glass in the half.
The Sea Gulls tallied the first five points of the second half to slice the lead to 16 with 18:21 to play but the Green Terror responded with a 19-2 run over the next 6 minutes, 28 seconds to push the lead to its largest at 53-20.
Chad Arrington (Randallstown, Md./Randallstown) added 13 rebounds for McDaniel, who has outrebounded its first two opponents, 110-60.
Miguel Jones (Baltimore, Md./North County) chipped in 11 points for the Green Terror.
Sunday’s championship game begins at 6:30 p.m.
-30- |
