HAVERFORD, Pa. – The Haverford College men's basketball team (5-16, 2-7 CC) suffered a Centennial Conference defeat to McDaniel (13-8, 3-6 CC) on Saturday afternoon, falling 70-57.
The contest, which took place in Gooding '84 Arena, served as the annual Play with Pride match in collaboration with Haverford's Play with Pride Club, supporting LGBTQ+ inclusion at Haverford and throughout collegiate athletics.
Haverford came out strong in the opening minutes, jumping to a 19-7 lead with 9:10 remaining in the first half. The Fords hit three quick three-pointers, with Carter Warren, Gaven Marr, and Alex George all connecting from beyond the arc in the early goings.
However, following a McDaniel timeout, the Green Terror mounted a comeback, going on a 12-0 run to tie the game at 19-19 with 6:13 left in the first half. Four different players contributed to the run, with David Kearney scoring four of the 12 points. McDaniel continued their momentum, outscoring the Fords 14-8 to take a 33-27 lead with just 1:25 remaining in the first half.
A much-needed three-pointer from Marr with 57 seconds left was followed by a late layup from Kearney, giving the Green Terror a 35-30 lead heading into halftime. At the break, Kearney led all scorers with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Marr and Warren led the Fords with six points each.
The first five minutes of the second half saw an even battle, as McDaniel and Haverford traded nine points each, with the visitors maintaining a 44-39 lead. To open the second half, Marr scored four more points, and Ali Kaan Bek hit one of his three made three-pointers.
Haverford continued to chip away at McDaniel's lead. A 9-4 scoring run, capped off by an emphatic Adam Strong-Jacobson slam dunk, gave the Fords a 48-47 lead. McDaniel quickly regained the advantage, as a Jonas Sujeta three-pointer put the Green Terror back on top, 50-48. Logan Brown then tied the game at 50-50 with a layup.
Unfortunately for the Fords, their offense went cold from that point as McDaniel went on a seven-minute, 13-0 run, taking a commanding 13-point lead, 63-50, with just 2:05 remaining. Kearney, Chuck Contee, and Sujeta all contributed four points each in the decisive run. Haverford managed just five more points in the contest, while McDaniel's final seven points sealed the 70-57 victory.
Kearney, a Havertown product, had a standout game for the Green Terror, scoring 24 points and grabbing an impressive 19 rebounds. He was joined in double figures by Sujeta, who tallied 17 points, and Contee, who scored 15 points. For the Fords, Marr was the lone double-figure scorer, finishing with 13 points and a season-high five assists.
Men's basketball will return to action on Wednesday, February 12, when the Fords travel to Ursinus for a pivotal Centennial Conference clash with the Bears. Tip-off for the crucial matchup is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.