BROOKLYN, N.Y. — First-year Kurt Thomas (Dallas, Texas) scored a team-high 17 points to lead the Pratt Institute men's basketball team to a 74-65 victory over Marywood University in an Atlantic East Conference matchup on Saturday afternoon at the Activity Resource Center.
Pratt (11-10, 3-7 Atlantic East) dominated on the glass, outrebounding the visitors 46-31 and moved back over .500 with a key league victory to remain a game behind Marywood (11-10, 4-6 Atlantic East) in the final playoff position.
The first half was a closely contested affair with two ties and two lead changes. A jumper from Mekhi Davis (Brooklyn, N.Y.) capped off a 9-2 run to open the contest. Pratt was unable to pull away to double digits and the Pacers hung around, taking a slim 25-24 lead before Pratt responded with a 10-2 run and carried a 34-30 lead into the lockers.
The Cannoneers asserted themselves in the second half and a Thomas breakaway dunk highlighted a 17-5 run over five minutes that built a 16-point separation at 59-43 – their largest lead of the contest. But the Pacers wouldn't go down easy and chipped away at the deficit, pulling within one at 66-65 on a Collin Himmelberg three-pointer, but the Cannoneers remained composed and held the Pacers scoreless over the final 2:53 to secure the victory..
Thomas was efficient, adding seven rebounds and three steals to his 17 points. Hatcher was nearly perfect off the bench, scoring 13 points on 6-for-7 shooting while grabbing five boards. Davis recorded a near double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds. Thomas Prendergast (Bayport, N.Y.) filled the stat sheet with eight points, a game-high 10 rebounds, a career-high five steals, four assists, and two blocks.
Marywood was paced by 14 points each from Collin Himmelberg and Andrew Quinn. Shilo Bivins chipped in 12 points before fouling out.
Pratt is back at the ARC hosting Neumann University in a conference matchup on Wednesday, Feb. 11. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
