(Riverdale, NY) – Facing a five-game losing streak in which they lost by an average of more than 27 points per game, and opening the New Year with arguably the toughest team on their schedule, Coach Michael Murphy and the Mount Saint Vincent Men's Basketball team could have easily let undefeated NYU control their January 2 encounter. And when the Dolphins trailed by 16 points in the first half, it seemed as if that were going to happen. However, during an incredible display of pure grit and tenacity that could very quickly turn the 2005-06 season around, the Mount gave their national powerhouse foe all they could handle, storming back to force overtime. Ultimately, Mount Saint Vincent fell 78-71 to NYU, but with perhaps their best effort of the season, the result on the scoreboard could be secondary.
Senior Greg Casey (Mount Vernon, NY/Blessed Sacrament HS) scored 14 second half points and added a team-high seven assists during that stretch, and Charles Hernandez (Bronx, NY/Msgr. Scanlan) added 11 points and a team-high 8 rebounds as the Dolphins overcame a 39-23 first-half deficit to tie the score at 64 and force overtime. Overtime was made possible by Hernandez, who forced a steal with 53 seconds remaining in the second half and converted a lay-up to tie the game. After an NYU turnover with 20 seconds remaining, Mount Saint Vincent (3-8) actually had a chance to win the game in regulation, but a James Mooney (Bronx, NY/Iona Prep HS) shot at the buzzer missed its mark, and the extra session was needed.
During overtime, NYU's Jared Kildare and Michael DeCorso combined for 12 points and NYU outscored the Mount, 14-7, to lead the visiting team to the 78-71 victory. The Violets converted four of their six field goal attempts during the overtime period while the Dolphins hit only three of their 12 overtime field goal attempts. Kildare finished the game with 17 points and a game-high nine assists, while DeCorso added a team-high 18 points and nine rebounds. Also having a big game for NYU was Daniel Falcon who chipped in a double-double with 17 points and a game-high 17 rebounds.
Each team had four players score in double figures as the Mount was also led by Mooney – who had a game-high 20 points - and sophomore Derek Charlton (Yonkers, NY/St. Raymonds), who had his finest game as a Dolphin with 14 points and seven rebounds. Mount Saint Vincent also received its best team defensive effort of the season, forcing 30 NYU turnovers, while committing only 14. However, the Dolphins lost the game on the boards as NYU outrebounded the Mount, 49-33.
While Mount Saint Vincent has lost six straight games to fall to 3-8, the current combined record of the six teams to defeat the Mount is 41-15. With a brutal stretch of games now behind them, the Dolphins will continue with their Skyline Conference schedule on Wednesday, Jan. 4 when they travel to St. Joseph's (LI) for a 7:30 p.m. game.
