By: Matt Palisin, Asst. SID
BOXSCORE BUFFALO, N.Y. -- With the Devils down two points in the closing seconds, senior
Tyrone Clark (Elmira/Elmira Free Academy) drove the baseline, converted a layup and was fouled in the process. He connected from the charity stripe to complete the three-point play, and sent the Devils to a thrilling 75-74 victory over host D'Youville College.
Clark finished with 21 points as the Devils improved to 2-3 on the season. D'Youville fell to 0-5.
With the ball and the lead, the Spartans missed on a short jumper, and the Devils grabbed the loose ball and quickly called time out. With 14.8 seconds remaining and possession at the D'Youville end, the Devils worked the ball up the court, setting up Clark for his heroics. Clark made good on his layup leaving 5.2 seconds on the clock. D'Youville got off a last-second shot in the paint, but it would not fall.
The Devils used an all around effort in the victory. Clark added seven rebounds and three assists to his stat line. He was three of four from three-point range.
Alexander Grace (Bemus Point, N.Y.) added 12 points and
Matt Deboy (Salamanca, N.Y.) had 11 points and 14 rebounds.
Robert Lyles (Peekskill) had eight assists to go with eight points and six rebounds.
Ray Parris (Brooklyn/Benjamin Banaker) chipped in eight tallies off the bench.
D'Youville was paced by Marcus Clarke with 30 points, and Mis Corey with 16.
The Spartans biggest lead of the first half, nine points, came at the 7:52 mark following a free throw by Clarke, making it 25-17 in favor of the host team. D'Youville led 38-32 at the break.
D'Youville opened up a 12-point lead early in the second, nailing a pair of threes to start the period, making it a 44-32 game.
From there, the Devils went on a 22-9 run to take their first lead, 54-53, since the first half. There would be three more lead changes and a pair of ties before Fredonia State closed out the game in the final seconds.
Clark and Grace had 10 points each in the deciding frame as the Devils outscored D'Youville, 43-36. Deboy had 10 of his 14 rebounds in the half.
The Fredonia State men have their home opener on Tuesday, Dec. 3 when they take on Alfred University in Steele Hall. Game time is slated for 7 p.m.
