HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College men's basketball team started its season with a 70-62 win over Rutgers-Camden and on Monday it was announced that Joe Scibelli was named the Centennial Conference Player of the Week. Scibelli's honor is the second of his career as he also earned player of the week accolades during his sophomore campaign.
Scibelli went for more than 20 points for the 11th time in his decorated career as he scored a game-high 27 points in the road victory over the Scarlet Raptors. That total was just two points shy of his career-high 29 points against Penn State Harrisburg to start the 2017-18 season. The double-double machine just missed adding onto his total on Saturday as he came away with eight rebounds.
Perhaps even more impressive than the number of points the senior scored was when they came. With Haverford trailing 35-25 at the half, Scibelli kick-started that rally with seven of the team's first nine points during the second half to cut the deficit down to a single point. He went on to tie the game at 12:35 mark following one of his trio of three-pointers. Scibelli scored 17 of his 27 points during the second half, with one of his jumpers keying a 10-0 run that ultimately gave Haverford a lead it would not relinquish.
Scibelli was a very efficient 11-of-13 from the floor in the season-opening win on Saturday. He knocked down three of his four attempts from beyond the arc and hit both of his free throws in a very strong day from the Fords overall at the line. Making an impact on the defensive end as well, Scibelli blocked a shot and came away with a steal.
Men's basketball will have a pair of home games this week inside Gooding Arena. Penn State Brandywine comes to campus this Wednesday for a 7 p.m. tip while Rosemont will make the quick trip on Saturday for a 2 p.m. start.