Men’s Basketball relentless in win over Mount Aloysius

PITTSBURGH --- Carlow University men's basketball scored an exciting 77-75 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference victory over Mount Aloysius College at Donahue Pavilion Wednesday night.

Jimmy Giannetta (Pittsburgh, Pa./Saint Joseph HS) led the Celtics with a game- and career-high 35 points. Tomasi Pavihi (Wellington, New Zealand/St. Mary's Ryken HS/College of Marin) added 11 points, and Clayton Cook (Brookville, Pa./Brookville Area HS) dished out five assists.

Throughout the first half, the teams tied the score four times and changed leads seven until the very end of the half.

The Celtics (4-20, 4-11 AMCC) trailed, 40-39, with 19 seconds left on the clock when Aleel Batts (Middletown, Pa./Middletown Area HS) was fouled on a three-point attempt. He sank two of his three shots to send Carlow into intermission ahead, 41-40.

The Mounties (4-20, 2-13 AMCC) went on a 16-5 run to start the second half, but Carlow quickly whittled away at the 10-point advantage. A steal by DeJuan Allen (Atlanta, Ga./Marietta HS) and the subsequent fastbreak layup from Braedon Beard (Myersville, Md./Middletown HS/Notre Dame of Maryland Univ.) tied the game at 56-all midway through the half.

Once again, both teams battled through three ties and nine lead changes throughout the remainder of the half.

Giannetta sank a trey to put Carlow ahead, 74-73, with a minute left in regulation. In the next play down the court, a Carlow player slapped the backboard on the Mounties' layup attempt. After review, the officials determined it to be goaltending, resulting in a bucket that gave Mount Aloysius a 75-74 advantage.

Giannetta grabbed the rebound on a missed Mount Aloysius attempt and tore down the court, dribbling through traffic, where he landed the layup and drew a foul. Giannetta, who has been clutch at the line all season, sank the free throw to give Carlow a 77-75 lead with just nine seconds left on the clock.

Mount Aloysius burned its final time out, and the Carlow defense prevented a three-point attempt in the final seconds to secure the win.

Carlow scored 17 points off 13 Mounties turnovers and outscored Mount Aloysius 15-6 off the bench.

The Mounties outrebounded the Celtics 37-32 and outscored Carlow 36-26 in the paint.

Troy Tinch led the Mounties with 21 points. Senique Jenkins added a double-double 14 points and 16 rebounds, and two other players tallied double figures in the effort.

The Celtics host Hilbert College for a 4 p.m. AMCC game Feb. 21. Prior to tip-off, Carlow will celebrate Senior Day.