BOXSCORE/PLAY-BY-PLAY
MEADVILLE, Pa. -- Catholic University erased a first-half deficit with a surge before halftime, then took command in the second half and rolled to a 71-45 victory over Fredonia State in the first round of the Allegheny Invitational.
The Blue Devils (0-2) used the three-point shot to a 15-6 lead as
Kevin Mitchell (Lake Luzerne/Hadley-Luzerne) hit his second of two treys.
Joseph Monahan (Floral Park/Holy Cross) and
Leonard Smith (Brooklyn/Nazareth Regional) also had three-point baskets during the run.
Catholic responded with a 17-4 run to take a 20-19 lead on a layup by Jason Banzhaf and never trailed thereafter. The Cardinals led 28-25 at halftime, and went on a 14-1 run to open the second half.
A three-point basket by Monahan cut the Catholic lead to nine points, 44-35, with 10:52 remaining. Over the next four minutes, the Blue Devils were outscored 21-2 and the game was out of reach.
Mitchell and
Adam Smith (Big Flats/Horseheads) had 10 points each to lead the Blue Devil scorers. Fluker finished with eight points and nine rebounds.
Catholic was led by Dan DiVietri with 19 points.
The Blue Devils are back in action 1 p.m. Sunday in the tournament consolation game against either host Allegheny or Pitt-Greensburg.
