GREENSBORO, NC – The WPU men's basketball team shaved a 25 point, second half deficit down to just three in the closing seconds of the game, but the Pacers couldn't get over the hump, as Greensboro held on to win, 78-73.
Shawn Shaffer gave WPU (13-12, 9-5 USAS) a two point (19-17) edge with eight minutes to go in the first, but the Pacers went 1-of-15 (6.7%) to close out the half and Greensboro led by nine (31-22) at the break.
Greensboro (15-10, 7-7 USAS) pushed their lead to 16 (40-24) three minutes into the second half with a 7-0 run, and then Brandon Pascucci got hot from three-point land. Pascucci hit five triples in the second half, helping the Pride to a 25 point (67-42) lead with 9:49 to play.
WPU wasn't done though, as Ryan Emfinger dialed one up from long-distance, capping a 13-0 run that cut the Pacer's deficit to 12 (67-55) with 6:23 remaining. Nate Strother gathered an offensive board and laid it in with 11 second left to bring WPU to within three (76-73), but Raheem Martin hit a pair at the line to put the game away.
The Pacers held Greensboro to 43.3% (29-of-67) shooting from the field, but WPU's 32.5% (25-of-77) outing was their second lowest clip of the season, and their 77 shots is the second most attempts they've taken this year. They went 24-of-78 (30.8%) vs. Connecticut College on New Year's Day. The Pacers went 9-of-33 (27.3%) from beyond the arc and 14-of-20 (70%) from the charity stripe.
Emfinger led WPU with 16 points, eight rebounds, an assist and a steal, while Bryson Gibson had 14 points, six boards and a pair of assists in 17 minutes off the bench. Chris Thomas also scored in double-figures with 11 points, four rebounds, a pair of assists and a blocked shot.
Pascucci paced the Pride with 20 off the bench, to go along with six rebounds. Raheem Martin registered a double-double of 14 points, 10 boards, two assists and four swats. Simeon Howard also added 14 points and six rebounds.
The William Peace men's basketball team will make their USA South conference tournament debut this Thursday at 3:00 p.m. The no. two seeded Pacers will square off against Methodist University, who they've already beaten twice this year.
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