St. Mary’s Nips Mary Washington, 56-53
Fredericksburg, Va. - Junior guard Camontae Griffin (Baltimore, Md./Dunbar) was the only Seahawk to score over 10 points as Griffin poured in a game-high 30 points in helping the St. Mary's College of Maryland men's basketball team outlast the University of Mary Washington, 56-53, for the Capital Athletic Conference victory Wednesday night.
With 1:24 left in the contest, the score was tied at 52-52 following a pair of free throws by Mary Washington's senior guard Matt Hale (Centreville, Va./Westfield). Sophomore forward Sam Burum (Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman) gave St. Mary's the go-ahead basket with his lay-up at 1:10.
Junior center Brandon Altmann (Vienna, Va./James Madison) pulled the Eagles within one with 39 seconds remaining as Altmann made one of two free throws. Griffin sealed the win with a pair of free throws with 24 ticks on the clock. Mary Washington's two three-point attempts in the game's final three seconds were off the mark.
Senior center Alex Irmer (Alexandria, Va./Wakefield) contributed to the St. Mary's (19-4, 12-2 CAC) win with a team-best eight rebounds and four points.
The first 20 minutes were a defensive battle as the contest was tied 23-23 at intermission. The Seahawks shot 37.5 percent from the field, including 57.1 percent from downtown, while holding Mary Washington (11-10, 8-5 CAC) to 31.0 percent, including 0-for-10 from behind the arc. The Eagles did out-rebound the visitors, 22-14, in the first half behind seven boards from Altmann.
Griffin led all scorers at intermission with 16 points on 4-of-5 shooting from long range, while Altmann guided the home side with nine.
This year's Mary Washington-St. Mary's series was decided by a combined total of seven points as the Seahawks pulled out an 81-77 overtime victory at home nearly a month ago.
The Eagles suffered the three-point setback despite having four players in double figures, including a pair that registered double-doubles. Altmann finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while senior forward Kiernan Whitworth (Springfield, Va./West Springfield) contributed 11 points and a game-high 11 caroms. Hale added 14, while senior guard Kevin Storus (Centreville, Va./Westfield) chipped in a dozen and six boards.
The Seahawks will return to action this Saturday, February 14, traveling to Washington, D.C. to face Gallaudet University in league action on Valentine's Day. The contest is scheduled to begin at 4:00 following the women's game which begins at 2:00.
