Fayette can't hold on against St. Vincent

December 18, 2010--Uniontown, Pa.

The Roaring Lions dropped their second match-up of the 2010-11 season against the Saint Vincent Bearcats on Saturday, falling 72-67 in a non-conference game in the Community Center Main Arena. Fayette held the lead for much of the game, but the Bearcats remained close and were able to closeout the Roaring Lions late with three late three-point field goals. The loss drops the Roaring Lions to 1-10 overall, 1-2 in the PSUAC, while Saint Vincent improved to 7-2 overall, 1-1 in the Presidents' Athletic Conference.

Fayette was led by senior guard Tim O'Bryant, who scored a game-high 19 points on 8-of-15 shooting. Sophomore guard James Pratt notched his second double-double of the season, scoring 16 points and grabbing a game-high 11 rebounds. Sophomore forward David Winns also recorded a double-double, netting 15 points and pulling down 10 rebounds, while going 9-for-12 from the free throw line. 

The Roaring Lions trailed for fewer than 15 seconds in the first half, going down 2-1 with 18:40 left to play, but would not trail again until the second half. Fayette saw a lead as great as 11 in the first half, but the Bearcats cut it to six by the break. The teams traded baskets throughout the second half as the Roaring Lions held a slim lead throughout. However, a 6-1 Saint Vincent run tied the game for the first time with 5:34 left to play. The game was tied two more times, at 58 and 60 before Bearcat guard Dennis Bassich hit a three-pointer to give Saint Vincent their first lead since their 2-1 advantage. Fayette free throws were not enough to match another Bearcat three-pointer, but a Winns layup and free throw brought the score to 66-65 with just over two minutes to play. Saint Vincent remained hot from behind the arc, as guard Isaac Turner made a three-point field goal, followed by a free throw by teammate BJ McGill that gave Saint Vincent its largest lead, 70-65. Two Fayette free throws followed by a Bearcat basket ended the scoring.

Saint Vincent was led by Turner's 19 points, while McGill added 14 and Bassich contributed 13. The Bearcats outshot the Roaring Lions 43 percent to 37, including going 17-for-29 (58 percent) in the second half. Saint Vincent held a slim advantage in rebouding, pulling down 41 to Fayette's 40, but the Roaring Lions made 19-of-24 free throws (79 percent) to Saint Vincent's 11-of-15 (73 percent). Saint Vincent won the earlier season match-up 83-53.

The Roaring Lions return to conference action on Saturday, Jan. 8, at 3:00 p.m. as they host Penn College.