Box Score SALEM, VA. – Freshman
Zack Yonda netted a career-high 22 points and classmate
Robbie Walsh recorded his first double-double as the Swarthmore College men's basketball team used a strong second half to defeat Eastern by a 73-65 score at Roanoke's Cregger Classic on Friday, Jan. 2.
Swarthmore (5-5), which trailed by two at the break, outscored the Eagles 39-29 in the second half to come away with their fifth win in their last seven games. Freshman
Matt Brennan completed an old-fashioned 3-point play by making a free throw to break the 11th tie of the game and give the Garnet a 43-42 edge. After the Eagles regained the lead, sophomore
Sam Lebryk set up classmate
Chris Bourne and Walsh for layups to make it 52-51 at the midway point. The Garnet never trailed again.
Yonda broke a 55-all tie by hitting a 3-pointer at the 7:12 mark, and Lebryk went coast to coast to put Swarthmore in control at 64-57 with just over five minutes left after sinking a jumper. Walsh and Yonda each sank free throws in the final minute for insurance.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair that featured seven ties and seven lead changes. Senior
Karl Barkley drained a trey on the Garnet's first possession before Eastern answered back with five straight points courtesy of Malcolm Garrison. Even though the Eagles stayed ahead for most of the frame, Swarthmore stayed within striking distance by shooting 50 percent from the field and a perfect 11-for-11 from the line. A layup in the waning seconds by Brennan cut the deficit to 36-34 at halftime.
Yonda scored his career-high 22 points by shooting a blistering 7-for-10 from the field, including 1-for-1 from long range, and 7-for-9 from the stripe to lead Swarthmore. Walsh registered his first career double-double by contributing 13 points and 10 boards, while Brennan added 15 points off the bench in his first game back since the opening weekend of the season.
Eastern (3-6) was paced by Shaquan Turk's 22-point effort. He also fell just shy of a double-double by grabbing nine boards. Garrison contributed 12 points and three steals.
Swarthmore will face host Roanoke in the championship game tomorrow at 2 p.m.
