STEUBENVILLE, OH – The Barons basketball team of
Franciscan University of Steubenville hosted La Roche on Wednesday
night, losing 92-90 in double overtime. With the loss, the Barons
fall 2-10 (1-8) in the season.
The Barons had a fast start, taking a 6-2 advantage in the first
2 minutes. From that point neither team led by more than 4 points
until the closing minutes of the half when La Roche took a 33-27
advantage. However, the Barons came out strong in the second half,
scoring 12 unanswered as Connor Flanagan, Sam Titus, Josh
Ducoulombier, and Matt Liedel all hit 3-point field goals.
The Barons built a lead as large as 12 points but La Roche
rallied back. La Roche senior Dylan Grazier, who finished the night
with a game-high 32 points, led the Redhawks to a 72-71 lead with
0:49 remaining. A free throw by Matt Liedel forced the game into
overtime, 72-72.
Neither team could pull away in the second half and a second
overtime ensued with the game knotted at 81. The Barons were unable
to take the lead in the second overtime and came up just short,
92-90.
This contest featured two 20-point scorers for the Barons, and a
total of 4 players who reached double digits in the scoring column.
Thomas Kleinschnitz was the top performer for the Barons, notching
25 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 block. Matt Liedel had 20
points, as well as 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals. Josh
Ducoulombier had 12 points, 7 boards, and a steal, while guard Pete
Burak tallied 11 points, 5 assists, 4 steals, and a rebound.
“To say it was a battle is an understatement,”
Barons coach Sean Donovan remarked. “Both teams had a
tremendous effort tonight. It's hard to be sitting on the
losing side, but you have to give credit to the heart that all of
the guys showed tonight. Thomas and Matt exploded for us
offensively, and Pete Burak had an incredibly unselfish game. It
could have gone either way – a call here or there could have
been difference.”
The Barons are now 0-3 against La Roche since entering the
Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference. A rematch is scheduled
February 17 at La Roche College.
The Barons' next contest is a Saturday home game versus
Bethany College at 1 p.m.
