ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Eddie Paquette scored the winning layup with 28 seconds remaining to give the Swarthmore College men's basketball team a 61-59 victory at Muhlenberg College on Saturday.
The Garnet earned a season sweep of the Mules with the win, though it did not come easy for Swarthmore. The two squads battled in a pair of classics this year with the Garnet coming out on top in both matchups by a total of three points. Swarthmore was victorious at home in overtime, 74-73, on January 14 before pulling out the two-point triumph on Saturday. The Garnet have now won eight consecutive meetings with Muhlenberg.
Swarthmore jumped out to a 14-5 lead early on. The Mules fought back to within two (20-18) before the Garnet pulled away with seven unanswered. Swarthmore remained in control for the rest of the half and led 31-24 at the break. The Garnet padded the advantage in the second, leading by as many as 15. However, Muhlenberg rallied with a 23-7 surge and took a one-point edge (55-54) with 2:41 to go. The teams were even at 59 in the final minute before Paquette tallied the final basket. The Mules got off two shots on their final possession but neither fell as Swarthmore held on for the win.
Paquette finished with a team-high 20 points for the Garnet while adding nine rebounds and two steals. The senior shot 6-of-10 from the floor, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc.
Zander Jimenez produced 11 points, dropping in a trio of three-pointers.
Jack Guevara chipped in eight points, five rebounds, and two assists while
Caleb Aurelien grabbed nine boards.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The first four buckets of the game were from long distance, three of which came from the visitors as Paquette, Jimenez, and
Ryan Chu all hit from downtown. After a Muhlenberg layup, Guevara scored five in a row to give the Garnet a 14-5 lead at the 14:53 mark. Paquette later sank another triple,
Nyle Coleman netted three points at the line, and Swarthmore held a 20-10 advantage with 10:39 on the clock.
- The Mules recorded eight straight points to cut the deficit to two (20-18) with 5:42 left in the half. However, the Garnet responded with seven unanswered to up the margin to nine (27-18) with 4:22 to play. The teams went back and forth over the final minutes of the period and Swarthmore led 31-24 at intermission.
- The Garnet opened the second half with a 13-5 run for their largest lead of the game (44-29) with 13:11 to go. They shot 5-of-6 during the stretch, including 2-of-3 from three-point range, while holding Muhlenberg to 2-of-11 at the other end. Swarthmore had the same cushion at 47-32 after Jimenez's three at the 12:33 mark.
- The Mules got back in the game with a 16-6 surge that brought them within five (53-48) with 6:25 remaining. The home team were 5-of-7 from the field during the sequence, including 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. That coincided with a cold streak by the Garnet in which they were just 2-of-12 shooting. After a Paquette free throw, Muhlenberg rattled off seven in a row to take its first lead of the day, 55-54, with 2:41 left.
- On the ensuing Swarthmore possession, Paquette grabbed an offensive rebound and was fouled. He made both shots to put the Garnet back in front. The Mules then made a second-chance layup to go ahead again, 57-56, with 1:59 to play. Paquette secured another offensive board and drilled a three to put his team in the lead, 59-57, at the 1:37 mark.
- Muhlenberg answered with a layup to tie it up at 59 with 1:16 left. On its next possession, Swarthmore missed a layup and the rebound was contested before going out of bounds. The initial call was in favor of the Mules but a bold challenge by the Garnet bench saw the call reversed and Swarthmore maintained possession. Paquette then drove to the low post, spun to his right, and laid the ball in with his left hand to give the Garnet a two-point lead. Coleman and Jimenez contested two Muhlenberg attempts at the other end, resulting in misses as Swarthmore pulled out the victory.
GARNET LEADERS
Points: Paquette 20
Rebounds: Paquette, Aurelien 9
Assists: Guevara, Chu, Coleman 2
Blocks:
Brady Kageyama, Aurelien 1
Steals:
Cal Hanson, Paquette 2
Threes: Jimenez, Paquette 3
UP NEXT
The Garnet (11-8, 5-2 Centennial) return home to take on Haverford College on Wednesday.
