TAMPA, FL – The SUNYIT Men's Basketball team (1-8) finished the Tampa Bay Shootout 0 for 2 on Friday, losing to the Maryville College Scots (7-5) by a score of 77-57. The Wildcats lost the previous day to host team DePauw University (6-4), 72-56.
In the opening round against perennial contender DePauw, SUNYIT played an exceptional game for all but roughly 5 minutes of game time. Between roughly the 13 and 8-minute marks in the first half, the Tigers went on a 15-0 tear. The run proved to be the difference in the game as SUNYIT played their opponent to a draw the rest of the way in losing by 16.
Wildcat leading scorer T'Andre Richardson (Utica, N.Y. / Utica-Proctor) scored 21 points on the day to lead all scorers. The 6'5" freshman also led the team with 13 rebounds and 3 blocks, but was frustrated into 7 turnovers by an aggressive Tiger defense.
The SUNYIT defense held DePauw to just 38% shooting from the field, and 30% from behind the arc, but the Wildcats inability to capitalize on the other end proved costly: SUNYIT shot only 37% from the field, and struggled worse from long range, going 2 for 15 on three-pointers.
In Friday's consolation game it was a tale of two halves. Maryville came out of the gate hot, going up 26-12 in the first 9 minutes and finishing the half up 35-17. After struggling in the previous day's game, Scots forward Milton Stanley lit up the Wildcats. The senior guard went for 30 points on 13 of 17 shooting, and added 6 rebounds and 6 assists.
SUNYIT for its part played Maryville roughly even in the second half, and various players contributed good minutes. First-year player Ryan James (Saratoga Springs, N.Y. / Saratoga Springs) was the only 'Cat to shoot at least 50% on the day, going 3 for 6 from the field off the bench and giving SUNYIT a much-needed spark with 3 assists as well. Fellow first-year Jason Baron (Westmoreland, N.Y. / Westmoreland) gave the Wildcats a lift off the bench as well, playing extended minutes in the first half.
Junior forward and captain Derek Rowe (Mexico, N.Y. / Mexico Academy) led SUNYIT in scoring with 14 points, and continued to battle on the glass with 15 rebounds. For his efforts, Rowe was named to the Tampa Bay Shootout All-Tournament team.
Coach Kevin Grimmer, now in his 16th season, kept the Wildcats early-season struggles in perspective after the game:
"This is one of the most difficult non-conference schedules we've ever played," said Grimmer, "We're very young and we've been going up against a lot of experienced, veteran teams from well-established schools, so while losing is always disappointing, we're gaining great experience that we think will pay dividends once we get to the league schedule."
The Wildcats fly back North on Saturday, where they will prepare for their final non-conference game, a rematch against Utica College. SUNYIT beat the Pioneers for their lone victory of the season last time the teams played, and will hope to do the same on Tuesday (Jan. 3rd), this time at home. Game time is scheduled for 5:00 pm.