There wasn't a lot that was pretty about the first round NEC win for the Mount on Thursday night. But the one nice thing about this time of year is that you aren't judged on style points. The Mount advanced to Sunday's conference semifinals with a gritty 65-50 win over St. Francis PA at Knott Arena on Thursday. As expected all four of the top seeds advanced on Thursday, so the Mount will face heated rival Robert Morris at the Sewell Center Sunday evening at 7pm. Quinnipiac and Long Island will meet in the other semi at QU. That game will be available on MSG and Fox College Sports at 2pm Sunday.
Kelly Beidler led the Mount to this victory. He was strong both offensively and defensively and was a force on the glass for the Mounties.
Cedric Latimer tried to keep the Red Flash in the game early. He knocked down four three-pointers in the opening half coming off the St. Francis bench. But Beidler ended up with the mark on Latimer and the Mount defense didn't allow him a point the rest of the night.
The Mount started very well and the Flash - which hasn't been a mainstay in the conference tournament - started very slowly. The Mount led by double digits midway through the first half before Latimer got hot and helped to draw the Flash within 6 at the break.
It never really got to close in the second half. The Mount got a key basket from Beidler, or so it seemed, everytime they needed it - and kept the lead at a comfortable level. Devin Sweetney, whose fine career came to an end in the defeat, did everything he could to keep the Red Flash close. At one point the Mount built the lead to 15 - but Sweetney scored 8 straight to get St. Francis within shouting distance.
I haven't seen a final box. My guess is Beidler ended up with about 16 and 11 rebounds. Will Holland shot it very well in the first half - and made his fouls down the stretch - and was definitely in double figures. I think Jean Cajou's free throw shooting probably got him into double figs as well.
Jeremy Goode and Shawn Atupem both missed large portions of the game in foul trouble. Goode did score the first two points of the game - and had 8 at one point - but it clearly wasn't the best performance the senior has ever had.
As usual it was a fairly balanced attack for the Mount, that was buoyed by the strong defensive effort.
Now its on to Pittsburgh for Sunday's tilt with Robert Morris. It should be something.
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Well Raff, it was actually a somewhat boring game. The Mount did not play very well at all. There is no way they will beat RMU if they do not make their free throws- they did not do well on them tonight, again. I suppose RMU will use the same strategy as they did last Saturday and force Mount to make FT's. The refs were not very good- unusual in that it was Bernard Clinton and Earl Walton as refs. I dont know if the Mount was toying around with SFPA or not, but they appeared to be smiling and laughing thruout. If that was what Mount would call a hard effort, then they have nothing to smile about except for surviving. I was just in Moon to see RMU play QU just the other week. I guess it is yet another dreaded trip up the turnpike- Im getting sick of seeing that road. I hope it will be the last road trip til dayton but I am worried bad about the game with RMU.
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