BUFFALO, N.Y. – Three Canisius College players scored in double figures, led by junior guard Billy Baron and his game-high 20 points, as the Golden Griffins closed out exhibition play with an 87-63 win over Eckerd College Thursday night in the Koessler Athletic Center. Junior Jordan Heath added 14 points, five rebounds and four blocked shots in the victory for the Blue and Gold, while senior guard Harold Washington scored 11 points to go with seven boards, two assists and two steals.
As a team, Canisius shot 48.6 percent from the field and the team ended the contest with a 50-26 advantage in points scored in the paint. Senior guard Alshwan Hymes chipped in nine points to the winning effort and junior forward Chris Manhertz was good for six points, seven rebounds and two blocks. Eckerd guard Woody Taylor scored 15 points to go with five rebounds and four assists for the Tritons. Eckerd shot 38.2 percent from the field, just 15.4 percent from 3-point land and ended up turning the ball over 19 times in the contest.
Canisius led 39-30 at the break and essentially put the game away for good in the opening moments of the second half with a 15-4 run over the span of 4:29 to stretch the lead to 54-34 with 15:31 left in the contest. During that run, Baron, Jordan Heath and Washington scored all 15 of the Griffs’ points, led by Baron, who was good for seven points in the first 4:30 of the second stanza. Eckerd was able to whittle the Griffs’ cushion down to 13 points at 62-49 with 9:24 left to play in regulation, but Canisius answered with a 9-1 run over the next 2:19, capped by a jumper in the lane by Baron.
Freshman Jermaine Johnson came off the bench to score five points along with three rebounds and three assists in 10 minutes of action. Sophomores Tyrel Edwards and Dominique Raney scored four points apiece, as did freshman forward Phil Valenti. As a team, Canisius was credited with 15 assists on 34 makes from the field while recording 11 steals and nine blocked shots.
Canisius will officially open the 2012-13 regular season on Monday, Nov. 12, when the team plays host to Boston University in the Koessler Athletic Center. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
Game Notes: This was the first time in school history Canisius played Eckerd College in men’s basketball action… The Griffs had 16 offensive rebounds as a team which turned into 20 second-chance points… Canisius was charged with 10 turnovers on Thursday, seven fewer than in the team’s first exhibition game against Ryerson Nov. 2… In two exhibition games, the Blue and Gold was credited with 18 blocked shots, led by Jordan Heath’s 10 blocks in two games… The Griffs averaged 14 fast-break points per game through the exhibition season.
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