BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The nationally ranked Northampton Men's Basketball team put forth a dominating effort to shutdown the visiting Roadrunners from RCSJ-Gloucester, 93-37, in Region 19 action on Tuesday evening at the Arthur L. Scott Center.
The Spartans, ranked 10th in the most recent NJCAA national poll, dominated from the opening tip with one of their best overall defensive efforts of the season, holding the Roadrunners to just a mere 19% (12-63) shooting from the floor while also controlling the inside game with a 63-32 edge in rebounds and forcing the visitors into 18 turnovers. The Spartans held the Roadrunners to just 17 points in the first half of action and just 20 points of offense after the intermission. Meanwhile, the Spartans shot 49% (36-73) and hit 12 buckets from beyond the arc.
"Great win tonight," remarked Spartans Head Coach
Brennan McCarthy, " We got a great individual scoring effort and also locked down as a unit and really played with some excitement on the defensive end. I felt the defense is what got us going tonight. Our defense set the tone and we fed off of the high energy. We controlled the tempo early and it set the tone for the rest of the night."
Sophomore guard
Kevin Rucker (Philadelphia, PA/Monsignor Bonner Prendergast) was the headliner with a season high 38 point effort for the Spartans. Rucker was 56% (13-23) from the floor, drilling 6 shots from 3 point land, and going 6-7 from the free throw line while grabbing 7 rebounds.
Terrence Cobb (Chester, PA/STEM Academy) scored 8 points and dished off 7 assists and
Mekhi Shillingford (Philadelphia, PA/Penn Wood High School) scored 7 points and recorded 7 rebounds with 3 blocks. Sophomore center
Lamaj Mapp (Darby, PA/Penn Wood High School) scored 4 points and had a game-high 14 rebounds.
Ermil Fleurinvil (Reading, PA/Downey Christian School) added 8 points and 13 rebounds off the bench.
Trailing, 7-6, just under 5 minutes into the first half,
Lamaj Mapp (Darby, PA/Penn Wood High School) connected on a layup to put the Spartans up, 8-7. The Spartans never trailed the rest of the way, outscoring the Roadrunners, 45-10, the remainder of the first half for a, 53-17, lead at the intermission. The Spartans came out of the locker room and picked right back up in the second half, outscoring the visitors, 40-20, and rolling to the convincing win.
Northampton improves to 20-3 overall and 12-2 in Region 19 action. The victory records the 9th straight season under Head Coach
Brennan McCarthy of 19 or more win for the Spartans.
RCSJ-Gloucester falls to 7-18 overall and 5-12 in the Region.
The Spartans are back on the floor this Thursday when they travel to Lincroft, NJ to take on nationally ranked Brookdale Community College at 7pm in Region 19 action at the Collins Arena.
