Solid second half not enough to lift Men’s Basketball to victory over La Roche

PITTSBURGH --- Carlow University men's basketball outscored La Roche University, 42-39, in the second half, but it was not enough as the Celtics fell, 76-64, in AMCC action on the road Wednesday.

Jimmy Giannetta scored and game- and season-high 22 points to lead the Celtics (4-20, 2-15 AMCC). Riley Comforti added 15 points, and Byron Gaskins contributed 12 points and five assists in the effort.

The teams traded marginal leads through the start of the game before a jumper from Giannetta tied the score at 9-all. A La Roche three-pointer a minute and a half later set off a 15-4 run for the Redhawks (15-9, 14-3 AMCC) that spanned just over three minutes.

Trailing 24-13, neither team would score for almost two minutes before a layup from Gaskins cut La Roche's lead to nine. The Redhawks pushed their lead to 10, but a trey from DeJuan Allen and two free throws by Comforti cut the advantage to five. Two last-minute layups gave La Roche a nine point lead heading into halftime.

The Celtics returned from intermission to go on a 20-12 run to start the second half, culminating in a trey from Galen Waters that cut the Redhawks' lead to one point six minutes in. La Roche hit a three, and Waters once again returned the favor with the Celtics trailing 49-48. A Giannetta layup gave Carlow its first lead since early in the first half before two free throws put the Redhawks ahead by one.

The Celtics kept it close through the half, staying within single digits of tying the game as time ticked off the clock. La Roche extended its lead to 10 points with just under four minutes remaining in regulation before a layup from Comforti brought the Celtics to within eight.

La Roche scored its final eight points of the game at the foul line as Carlow fouled to regain possession.

The Redhawks shot 85.9 percent (17 for 19) from the foul line and outrebounded the Celtics 33-25 on the night. La Roche scored 17 second-chance points to Carlow's four and outscored the Celtics 25-5 off the bench.

Dominic Elliott and Joe Starzynski scored 16 points each to lead the Redhawks. Jerique Walker added 12 points off the bench.

Carlow concludes the regular season with a 4 p.m. AMCC game at Alfred State College Feb. 17.