Box Score
Rockhurst boxscore in PDF
The Maryville men’s basketball team nearly came all the way back from a 16-point deficit, but the potential game-winning 3-pointer by
Derek Deters spun off the rim, and
Myles Jerrett’s put back was waved off as the Saints dropped a heartbreaking 53-52 decision to Rockhurst.
The visiting Hawks scored on the first possession of the game and kept the lead the rest of the half. Rockhurst used a 13-0 run midway through the first half to build a 29-13 advantage. The Saints chipped away at the deficit by hitting six straight free throws. A Trae Pemberton 3-pointer cut the margin to 31-22 before the Hawks settled for a 34-24 lead at halftime.
Pemberton scored five straight points for Maryville as the Saints closed to 34-29 two minutes into the second half. Downs 40-34, the Saints used a 9-2 burst to surge ahead.
Asa Toney scored on a drive to the basket to register his 1,000th career point to help the Saints get to 40-36. Rockhurst hit two free throws, but Toney answered with another bucket inside. Pemberton drained a triple to give the Saints their first lead of the game 43-42 with 12 minutes to play. Rockhurst took the lead back and build a six-point advantage late in the contest. The Hawks still led 53-47 until the Saints defense came up with stops, and Maryville make one last charge.
Armon Provo scored to cut the gap to four, and he completed a three-point play to bring the Saints to 53-52 in the final minute. The Maryville defense collapsed on a Rockhurst ball handler in the corner and forced a turnover with 19 seconds to play. The Saints worked the ball to Deters who had a good look from the top of the key, but his game winner narrowly misfired as the Hawks (4-17, 3-11 GLVC) escaped.
Pemberton, who had a career-high in Maryville’s last outing, led the Saints with 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting. He also converted four of his six attempts from 3-point range. Toney, who became the 14thth Maryville men’s player to reach 1,000 points in a career, finished with 12 points and six assists. Provo also chipped in 12 points, and Jerrett grabbed a team-high six rebounds. Brandon McCann led Rockhurst with 12 points and nine rebounds.
The Saints drop to 20-7 overall, 9-5 in the conference. Maryville is back in action Saturday as it hosts William Jewell in a 3:15 p.m. contest.
