McCANDLESS, Pa. - La Roche men's basketball fended off a second half comeback by visiting Franciscan to win their eighth straight game Wednesday night, 82-75. The Redhawks remain perfect at the Kerr this season now with a 9-0 record at their home venue and improved to 16-1 in conference play.
Tyler Frederick led the Redhawks tonight with 28 points and tied his career-high with 19 rebounds, picking up his conference-high 14th double-double of the season. Frederick knocked down 10 of 15 (67%) shot attempts including 3 of 5 (60%) three-pointers. Tyler also drained all five of his free-throw attempts and added a block.
Darius Lawrence picked up his first career double-double, finishing with 17 points and a career-high 11 assists, the most by any Redhawk in a game this season. Darius shot a perfect 13 of 13 from the free-throw line. Lawrence currently ranks first in the AMCC in free-throw's per game (5.1) and seventh in free-throw percentage (81.1%).
Off the bench, up and coming Freshman guard Joe Pipilo scored 11 points while shooting 3 of 6 (50%) from deep. Pipilo has shot 8 of 16 from three-point range in his last three games combined, hitting multiple triples in each performance.
As a unit, LRU shot 51% (25-49) from the field and 42% (11-26) from beyond the arc. In nine home games this season, La Roche has averaged 90.8 points per game while shooting 50.6% from the field and 38.8% from deep.
With three games remaining in regular season conference play, La Roche holds a 1.5 game lead over Pitt Greesnburg (15-3) in the league standings. The Redhawks are an incredible 34-1 in regular season AMCC action dating back to last season.
Final: La Roche: 82, Franciscan: 75
Records: La Roche (16-6, AMCC: 16-1), Francsican (7-14, AMCC: 6-10)
How it Happened
Luke McDonough scored the Redhawks first four points off offensive put-backs as the teams exchanged buckets throughout the first ten minutes of the half. LRU then put together a 9-0 run with the help of two 3-PT from Desmond Ross to go ahead 21-14 with 9:08 still left in the first.
Franciscan produced an 8-2 run over the next two minutes to make it a one-point game, but the Redhawks closed out the first half on a strong note, holding the Barons to just three points over the final seven minutes while scoring 13 to head into halftime with a 36-25 lead.
Less than seven minutes into the second, La Roche rattled off a 22-13 run to build their lead to 20, the Redhawks largest of the contest. FSU refused to quit and pulled to within six points with just under four minutes to play after completing a 25-11 run, but that is as close as the Barons got. La Roche would hold off Franciscan and go on to win by seven.
Inside the Box Score
Luke McDonough finished with seven points, six rebounds and a block on 3 of 5 FG in 21 minutes of action. McDonough has recorded at least one block in 16 games this season.
In his second start of the season, Desmond Ross contributed nine points, two rebounds, a steal and a block while draining 3 of 5 treys.
LRU was an impressive 21 of 25 (84%) at the free throw line as a unit, tied for their most made free throws and second highest percentage in a game this season.
The Redhawks posted 17 assists on 25 field goals. LRU has recorded at least 15 assists in seven of their last eight games.
La Roche won the battle of the boards for the fourth straight contest, out-rebounding Franciscan 38-27.
Four Barons finished in double-digit scoring figures led by Travis Lien who finished with 19.
NEXT UP: Men's basketball travels to Hamburg, NY this Saturday, February 15th to take on the Hilbert Hawks. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m.
