BROOKLYN, NY - The Pratt Institute's men's basketball team (11-9) held on for a dramatic 80-78 win over ACAA opponent Valley Forge on Saturday afternoon.
Griffin Levine (Dallas, TX) led the way with a game high 26 points.
Ace Bibbs (Philadelphia, PA) added 18 points and eight rebounds while
Patrick O'Gorman (Glen Ridge, NJ) connected for 14 points on 5-7 from three-point range.
The Cannoneers came rolling out of the gate in the first half as it scored 13 of the first 15 points to take a 13-2 lead four minutes in. The Patriots cut the lead to four over the next three minutes however Pratt pushed the lead back to double-digits with 9:33 remaining in the half at 26-15.
The game of runs continued as Valley Forge scored the next eight points to get back within three. With 4:35 remaining in the first half of play, Pratt opened up a 12-point lead, tied for the largest of the half. The Patriots managed to cut into the lead as it ended the half on a 12-4 lead to get within 39-35 at the break.
The second half went back and forth over the first seven minutes of play as the Patriots tied the game at 48. Both teams played even over the next four minutes before Pratt ran off an 8-0 run to regain a commanding 68-60 advantage. Over the final four minutes, Pratt would not relinquish the lead as it held on for the two point victory.
Pratt finished the game shooting 43% from the floor and knocked down nine three-pointers. Pratt held the Patriots to just 3-15 from three-point range in the second half.
With the win, the Cannoneers now have 11 wins on the season, the most since the 1992-93 season.
The Cannoneers return to action on Tuesday when it hosts Vaughn College at 8 pm.
