For the second time this season business major Denzel Primus-Devonish achieved a major statistical accomplishment on his home court. However, the Setters found themselves on the wrong end of the final score once again.
Pace lost to the Panthers of Adelphi 67-55 as Primus-Devonish joined the company of 15 other Setters to ever record 100 steals in a career. Primus-Devonish also was able to lead the Setters in scoring with 19 points and added two assists to his stat line.
The Panthers were able to clutch the game’s momentum by the throat after a 12-2 run to close out the first half. Bradley Simpson accumulated 14 points in the half to help propel the Panthers to a 38-24 lead. Adelphi was also able to get seven points from Anthony Liboria on five shots in the first frame of play.
Within the first six minutes of the second half the Panthers had stretched their lead all the way out to 21 points. Adelphi was able to knock down five of their first nine shots to begin the half and grab a stranglehold on the momentum.
There were a variety of statistical reasons why the Panthers were able to secure the win. Adelphi shot 46 percent from the field compared to the Setters, who shot 39 percent.
Adelphi was also able to secure a victory in the turnover battle. Pace gave the ball up a total of 17 times throughout the game while the Panthers only turned the ball over 12 times.
Speaking of 12, that number was the gulf in assists that separated the two teams. Adelphi had 19 dimes throughout the game compared to the Setters who managed just seven.
Still the most exciting moment of the game belonged to the home team. With four minutes and 26 seconds left to play in the second half, freshman business major Salvatore Vitello missed a layup with the Setters on a fast break. After the miss, junior forward Jonathan Merceus seized the offensive rebound and threw down a dunk that ignited the home crowd and cut the lead to ten.
In addition to the dunk, the Setters were able to diversify their offense. Merceus managed to accumulate 14 points on the night and senior business management major Keon Williams scored eight points and hauled in six rebounds.
With the loss, the Setters fall to 9-15 on the season with a record of 6-14 in the Northeast-10. This was loss number six for Pace and they sit in the number 14 seed in the conference.
The Setters will square off against the Greyhounds of Assumption College on Sat. Feb. 23 in their final home game of the regular season.