CARLISLE, Pa. – The Haverford College men's basketball team led Dickinson for the vast majority of Saturday's Centennial Conference road game. However, the host Red Devils – after trailing for over 26 consecutive minutes – rallied to reclaim the lead with 3:03 remaining in regulation time before holding on for a 76-69 victory.
The Fords once again got a monster game from sophomore Joe Scibelli as he scored 23 points and pulled down 12 rebounds for his seventh double-double in 11 games. He has now scored in double figures in all 11 games and has hit the 20 point mark in eight contests. Matt Sherman and Sam Stogdon joined their teammate in double figures as both players finished with 10 points on the afternoon. Dickinson's Elijah Wright (26 points) and Jule Brown (18 points) combined for over half of the Red Devils' offense on Saturday.
In total, Haverford held the lead for 32:06 of playing time and was tied for another 3:59 of regulation time. Dickinson found itself ahead on the scoreboard for a total of just 51 seconds in the opening half and just under four minutes during the entire game after taking the lead near the close of the second half.
Haverford held the lead for good during the first half when Grayson Roth, who finished with eight points, knocked down a three-pointer to give his side a 13-12 lead and thwart one of Dickinson's two advantages in the opening half. The Fords stretched their lead to eight points with a five points from Sherman on two of the three following possessions.
The Fords' lead grew to a game-high 15 point advantage with just over three minutes left in the first half behind a pair of free throws from Scibelli. That run capped a stretch of 10 minutes where Haverford scored 25 points and allowed just 11 from Dickinson on the defensive end of the floor.
The Red Devils did close the opening half on a 6-0 run but that was not nearly enough to overcome Haverford's dominant first half as the visitors took a 38-29 lead back to their locker room. By the time the first half came to a close, Scibelli was well on his way to a double-double with 12 points and five rebounds, while Sherman scored nine of his points in the first half.
Dickinson got the game within five points in the early minutes of the second half. Nevertheless, Haverford got another basket from distance off of the shooting touch of Roth to stretch its lead back to double figures just two minutes later. The second half lead grew to 13 points, 57-44, as Scibelli hit from distance with 13:18 to play in regulation. The Fords were still holding a double figure advantage all the way past the 12 minute mark.
Free throws proved crucial to Dickinson getting back into the contest as the hosts scored seven of their 16 points at the line during a 16-6 run that tied the game at 65-all with 3:03 left on the clock. Dickinson finished with many more chances than Haverford at the line for the game, scoring 24 at the charity stripe. Despite holding a free throw percentage that was 14 percent better, Haverford got just 13 points at the line in 15 chances.
Dickinson also scored its final six points at the free throw line during the final two minutes of play to secure the come-from-behind victory.
Men's basketball will return home next Tuesday as it hosts Gettysburg at 8 p.m. That game will be a doubleheader with the women tipping off with the Bullets at 6 p.m.
Tuesday will also be Hoops 'N' Hoogie Night in the GIAC. Free hoagies and beverages will be available as long as supplies last for all family members of Haverford College employees and alumni. Back by popular demand, Magic by Poly will also be performing during halftime of the women's game and in between the men's and women's games.