PANTHERS FALL TO MANHATTANVILLE, 87-68
FEBRUARY 24, 2007
PURCHASE, N.Y.-The Old Westbury Panthers men's basketball team was unable to overcome a 4 point half-time deficit and were outscored by 35 points in the second half in the championship game of the Skyline Conference Tournament, losing to Manhattanville 87-68.
At the half Old Westbury trailed Manhattanville, 26-22 despite holding them to 25.7 percent from the field and out-rebounding the Valiants. The Panthers jumped out to an early 6-0 run to start the second half and took their first lead since 2-0. Old Westbury scored the first six points of the second half, taking a 28-26 lead on a lay-up by Dan Kane. Manhattanville launched a valiant surge and never looked back as they trailed 30-29 and drew three straight charges on the defensive end and then scored three straight offensive possessions. Brian Fink put Manhattanville in the drivers seat when he connected on a 3-pointer with 15:38 left to put the Valiants up, 32-30. Manhattanville stretched the lead to double figures for the first time in the game, 45-35 on a John DiBetta 3-pointer and lay-up on back-to-back possessions. The Panthers were unable to overcome a 71-47 Manhattanville lead with 4:10 to go in the championship game.
Old Westbury was led by Ian Johnson's 24 points and 5 rebounds. Garthlette James added 18 points and 5 rebounds. Kenneth Eusey was held to 4-of-16 shooting from the floor and finished with 10 points, 11 rebounds (game-high) and 2 steals. Dane Kane added 6 points and 5 rebounds. Divine Jackson contributed 7 rebounds, 4 points and 2 steals. Anthony Stowe scored 6 points and grabbed 3 rebounds before fouling out.
Manhattanville's John DiBetta poured in a team-high 21 points and grabbed 5 rebounds, earning him the tournaments Most Valuable Player. DiBetta averaged 16 points per game in the skyline championship Tournament. Brian Fink recorded a double-double, 17 points and 10 rebounds. Brendan Flynn and Cody Moffit scored 13 points apiece. Donte Chisolm added 7 assists and 6 points.
Old Westbury was out-rebounded by 4, 42-38 and was called for 32 fouls which gave Manhattanville 43 attempts at the charity stripe. The Valiants shot 31-of-43 (71.1 percent) from the free-throw line while the Panthers shot 16-of-24 (66.7 percent).
The Panthers (18-10, 12-4 Skyline) will wait to hear about an ECAC bid, which will be announced on Monday night, February 26th. For more information about the Old Westbury Panthers or to follow your favorite Panther sports and events, log onto http://www.oldwestburypanthers.com/.