Campus News
January 30th, 2024
Lakers hold off Anne Arundel, 78-77
Garrett College men have won six of their last seven to improve to 11-8
The Riverhawks were like a houseguest who had overstayed their welcome – they just kept hanging around.
Once trailing by 24 points, Anne Arundel Community College had two chances in the last 10 seconds to steal Saturday’s men’s basketball game against the host Lakers. It wasn’t until K’Shawn Scott secured a 3-point airball by Nicholas Augusterfer with one second remaining that Garrett College could breathe a sigh of relief with a 78-77 victory.
“At the end of the day, I’m just glad to have a win,” said GC head coach Matt McCullough, whose Lakers (11-8 overall, 2-4 conference) have now won three straight and six of seven games.
It seemed unlikely this game would come down to a final shot as the Lakers blew out to a 46-22 lead with 3:08 remaining in the first half. AACC, however, trimmed that margin to 50-34 at the break and then kept chipping away at the deficit in the second half.
“They hit some shots and got some confidence,” said McCullough. “They were playing with all the momentum and we were just trying to hang on.”
Jeremiah Stroman led the Riverhawks’ comeback, scoring 17 of his 23 points in the second half. Stroman’s 3-pointer with 28 seconds remaining cut the deficit to 78-77, and the Lakers kept the door open as Gavin Jackson and Alex Vargo each missed the front end of one-and-ones.
In the end, however, GC’s defense came through as Scott blocked a Stroman layup attempt with 9.2 seconds remaining. The Riverhawks did get a good look at a game-winning shot on a kick-out to Augusterfer, but Scott (10 points, 16 rebounds) came up with the miss and ran out the clock.
Vargo led the Lakers with 21 points and Jackson contributed 15, all in the first half. Nate Washington (five assists, two steals) added 14 points and Justyn Boyd added nine points, seven in the opening half.
“We got good minutes and some crucial plays out of Justyn Boyd off the bench,” said McCullough.
Steve Robinson added five points and Rob Smith contributed four in his first game since December 9th due to injury.
“It was nice to have Rob back in the lineup,” said McCullough.
Riverhawk Kris Peet shared game-high scoring honors with Stroman with 24 points.
The Lakers host Westmoreland County Community College Wednesday at 7 p.m. and play at Potomac State College of West Virginia University Saturday at 3 p.m. in rematches. GC defeated Westmoreland, 121-65, and downed Potomac State, 88-72, earlier this season.
GC 87, Beaver County 69
Alex Vargo’s 35 points led four Lakers into double figures last Wednesday night as Garrett College’s men’s basketball team won for the fifth time in six games.
GC raced to a 52-27 halftime lead. K’Shawn Scott (19 points, game-high 13 rebounds) posted a double-double while Gavin Jackson scored 13 points and Nate Washington (six rebounds, game-high eight assists) added 11.
Vargo (seven rebounds, three assists, two steals) made 14-of-21 shots, including 5-of-9 from beyond the arc. He’s now scored at least 30 points five times this season.
