BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The Pratt Institute men's basketball team used a 52-point second half to whittle a 17-point deficit to three, but the Cannoneers suffered 83-79 loss to Bard College on Tuesday evening at the Activities Resource Center.
Patrick O'Gorman drained six three-pointers to score a game-high 24 points and Cameron Hatcher added 22 – both combining for 30 second-half tallies. Hatcher also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds and blocked two shots, while O'Gorman dished out four assists and grabbed as many boards.
Ace Bibbs joined them in double-figures with 10 points, four boards and three assists. Daniel Golub and Aaron Nisbett chipped in eight points each.
Calvin Mader-Clark sank five triples en route to 18 points to lead four in double-figures for Bard (3-2). Elliot Harris had 15 points and Tyler Bruns chipped in 12 and nine rebounds.
Hatcher scored a half-leading 10 points to lead the Cannoneers, but the Raptors scored the first seven points of the contest and stretched their lead to 44-27 at the intermission behind a 49 percent (18-of-37) shooting half.
O'Gorman opened the second half with a triple and Pratt tried to chip away at a double-digit deficit for most of the period. Pratt brought the deficit to single digits briefly on multiple occasions and trailed 77-65 with three minutes to play.
After a Hatcher basket, O'Gorman hit a deep triple in transition that prompted a Bard timeout, clinging to a 77-70 lead. O'Gorman swiped the ensuing inbounds pass and Hatcher converted a three-point play to extend the 8-0 run. After a Bard bucket extended their lead back to six, O'Gorman knocked down his fourth trifecta of the half to pull the Cannoneers within three, 79-76, with 1:44 to play.
Pratt found themselves down by six again after another Bard three-pointer but pulled within three again with 29 seconds to play, but couldn't get any closer.
After improving their shooting to 49 percent in the second half, Pratt finished 42 percent (28-of-67) for the game – their second-highest connect rate of the season. The Cannoneers also drained 11 three-pointers, their second time this season with double-digit treys.
The Cannoneers return to the hardwood after the Thanksgiving break hosting Cairn University on Monday, November 28 in a 7 p.m. tip-off at the ARC.
