WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. --
Richard De La Cruz (New York, N.Y./Norman Thomas) was named to the Louis Fleming Basinger Memorial all-tournament team Friday afternoon after leading Fredonia to a 79-71 consolation game victory over Rosemont College.
De La Cruz finished with 22 points, including eight straight during a decisive stretch in the second half, while
Ian Helps (Bronx, N.Y./Greater New York Academy) added 15 points and Dante'Â Williams (Buffalo, N.Y./Hutch Tech) had 12.
Nicc Johnson (Buffalo, N.Y./St. Mary's of Lancaster) led the Blue Devils with 13 rebounds and five assists.
The teams traded the lead in the first half. A three-pointer by Williams gave the Blue Devils their largest lead, 23-16. Rosemont rallied with a 13-2 run to retake the lead, 29-25, before the Blue Devils went on a 10-5 run, including four points by Williams to close out the half. Fredonia led 35-34 at the break.
A layup by Rosemont's Andrew Michaels forged a 39-39 tie early in the second half before Fredonia took control for good. The Blue Devils pushed their lead out to 63-53 over the next 10 minutes, punctuated by consecutive De La Cruz three-point baskets out of the left corner. Following two Rosemont free throws, De La Cruz was on the receiving end of a press-breaker for a layup to reestablish a 10-point lead.
Rosemont twice pulled to within four points late in the game yet could get no closer.
The Blue Devils shot 44.4 percent from the field, including 50 percent in the second half (14 of 28). Led by Johnson's 10 boards plus nine by Williams and eight by De La Cruz, they held a decisive 53-37 rebounding advantage.
With the win, Fredonia improved to 4-7 with a week of practice to prepare for their SUNYAC road trip to North Country next weekend. They visit Plattsburgh next Friday and Potsdam next Saturday. The Blue Devils are 1-3 in the conference.