Bethany 103, Franciscan 100
Franciscan Starters
Justin Mack, Tristan McDannell, Sean Hickey, Nicholas Allienello, Josh Zimmerman
Bethany Starters
Riggs, Klimchock, Uphold, Zimmerman, White Jr.
How It Happened
The Barons battled in a high scoring thriller where both teams would reach 100 points. Sean Hickey scored 30 points for the third time in his career and second time against local PAC rival, Bethany.
Franciscan got off to a quick start, as they would hold a 7-4 lead after a driving layup from Justin Mack. Then Bethany would go on a 9-0 run to take the lead back at 13-7. The Hickey brothers would respond with a 7-0 run, as Aidan Hickey scored his first bucket of the game before his older brother, Sean Hickey would make a three pointer and a pair of free throws. The Barons were able to stretch the lead back up to a five point margin after Nicholas Allienello converted his first three pointer of the night. The Bison would answer once more, as they tied it up at 29-29 just over halfway into the first half. Franciscan would be able to climb their lead back up to five, as Benjamin Klement and Yann Yonkeu joined the scoring column, and the score would be 36-31 with seven minutes left to play. The high energy game would continue, as Bethany would be able to retake the lead with two minutes left by a score of 48-47. Fittingly in the first half of runs, Franciscan would respond to take a six point lead, but Bethany would be able to knot it up at 57-57 at the half. Sean Hickey led all scorers at the break with 17 points. Bethany was highly efficient, as they shot 67.6% from the field over the first twenty minutes of play, including nine made three pointers.
Scoring idled down slightly in the first two minutes of the second half, as only nine points were scored. 19 points were scored in the final two minutes of the first half. Franciscan would take a 62-61 lead on Sean Hickey's made three pointer with less than 18 minutes remaining in this game. Bethany would respond with the largest run of the game by either team, as they went on a 12-0 run to take their largest lead of the night at 74-65. Derek White Jr three assists on the run to lock up a double double with double digit points and assists with 15 minutes left to play. Colton Hage would register his first points of the night with a transition, and one, layup to cut the margin to six points with 12 minutes left in this one. A few minutes later, Tristan McDannell gave the Barons a spark with a coast to coast layup. That led to an immediate steal by Josh Zimmerman and a layup from Zimmerman to cut the lead to a four point margin at 85-81. Bethany would respond, once again, as they were able to extend the lead to 11 points, the largest lead by either team thus far at 94-83 with eight minutes to play in regulation. The Barons would continue to fight, and they would go on an 8-0 run of their own thanks to three big buckets from Josh Zimmerman. That would make it a one possession game at 94-91 with less than six minutes remaining. The Bison would respond, as they would be the first team to reach triple digits, as they would hold a lead of 101-93 with three minutes to play. Franciscan had one last run in them, as a 7-1 run capped with a Colton Hage three pointer, set the score at 102-100 with less than a minute remaining. The Barons would have possession in the final seconds, but not be able to connect on a winning three or jumper in the paint to tie it up, and the Bison would win 103-100.
Inside the Numbers
- Sean Hickey kept up his individual success against Bethany, as he scored a team high 30 points.
- Josh Zimmerman filled up the box score with 23 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
- Derek White Jr of Bethany recorded a triple double with 20 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds.
- Franciscan played 11 players tonight, all of which scored at least two points.
- Franciscan had 18 steals, as they caused 28 turnovers on the night.
- Franciscan attempted 87 shots, most in school history.
- Bethany shot 59.7% from the field on the night.
Up Next
Franciscan will continue PAC play, as they head to Waynesburg on Saturday. The Barons are searching for their first win all-time against the Yellow Jackets, as they are 0-8 in their previous eight meetings. In last season's conference matchup the Yellow Jackets won 90-71, as they out-rebounded Franciscan 54-27. The Yellow Jackets have had some early season success including a pair of overtime wins against Hiram and Penn State Behrend.
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