Feb. 16, 2005

Box Score

BALTIMORE, MD - The Gettysburg Bullets defeated the Blue Jays of Johns Hopkins, 63-60 in Centennial Conference men?s basketball this evening. Gettysburg improves to 14-9, and 11-5 in the Centennial with the win, while Hopkins falls to 14-8, and 11-5 in conference play. Both teams are tied for second place in the Centennial Conference with Ursinus.

Mike Spadafora of Gettysburg hit a runner in the lane with 41 seconds remaining to put the Bullets up, 61-58. Hopkins brought the ball up and called a time out in hopes of setting up the game-tying bucket. The Blue Jays never got a shot off, turning the ball back over to the Bullets. Hopkins quickly fouled Matt Whelan who nailed his two free throws to put Gettysburg up 63-58 with only 21 seconds remaining. The Blue Jays missed on two three point attempts, and with only 0.3 second remaining, sophomore Danny Nawrocki (Syosset, NY/Chaminade) banked home a three-footer, but it was too late, as the Blue Jays lost 63-60.

After Hopkins took a 31-27 halftime lead, the Bullets used a 6-2 run to start the second half to knot the game at 33-33 with 17:55 to go. Hopkins countered, and quickly built its lead back up, as senior Eric Toback (Ellicott City, MD/Mt. Hebron) hit a jumper and freshman Terence Coppola (Scotia, NY/Scotia-Glenville) nailed a three on back-to-back trips to put the Blue Jays up five at 38-33.

Trailing 50-47 with 9:40 to go, Todd Brady ignited a 7-0 run for the Bullets, which saw them turn a one-point deficit into a five-point lead. Coppola then hit back-to-back threes on two straight possessions to give the Blue Jays a 55-54 lead with 3:34 to play. The Bullets regained a 57-55 lead on an Erik Fromm three, and Hopkins was only able to cut the Bullets lead to one in the final 2:46, as the Bullets held on to pick up the victory.

Fromm led Gettysburg with 15 points, while Spadafora picked up his first career double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Kyle Jakobe picked up 13 points in the win for the Bullets. Nawrocki posted his second consecutive 16 points performance. Coppola was just behind Nawrocki with 14 points, while Valerio and Toback had 12 and 10 points respectively.

With the loss, Hopkins falls into a tie for second place in the Centennial Conference with Gettysburg and Ursinus. All three teams have identical 11-5 records in the Centennial Conference, while Franklin & Marshall, who defeated McDaniel this evening remains in first place with a 12-4 record.

The Blue Jays will return to action this Saturday when they travel to Ursinus for a 1 pm tip.

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