SUNY Orange got off to a strong start at the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association Division II men’s basketball tournament.
Anthony Pacciarelli posted 33 points and 13 rebounds to lead the No. 15 seeded Colts to an 80-78 victory over No. 18 Prince George’s in a first-round matchup in Danville, Iowa, on Monday, March 16. Pacciarelli hit two free throws with four seconds remaining to restore a five-point lead.
Orange (24-8) will face No. 2 Palm Beach State College at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday, March 17. The winner will face either No. 7 Danville or No. 10 Mid Michigan in a quarterfinal on Wednesday at 9 p.m.; the loser will face the loser of Danville/Mid Michigan on Thursday at 3 p.m. in a consolation matchup.
Gavin Williams posted 14 points, five rebounds and eight assists, Darren McFarlane had 10 points and seven boards and Giovani Rupert and Keishawn Morris each had eight points for Orange, who shot 36 percent, 7-for-27 beyond the arc and 27 of 36 free throws.
For Prince George’s, Willie Rivera Jr. had 22 points, Brazil Hutchinson 10 and Paul Vance III added 12. The Owls shot 30 percent, 9-for-30 from beyond the arc and 23 for 33 from the foul line. Prince George’s had a 52-43 rebounding edge.
Orange – which had to take six forfeit losses – hasn’t lost an on-court full game since Jan. 10 to Monroe Community College.
kmcmillan@th-record.com
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This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Orange men’s basketball wins opener at NJCAA D2 tournament
Reporting by Ken McMillan, Middletown Times Herald- Record / Times Herald-Record
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