Box Score

IMMACULATA, PA - A nagging trend has developed early this second semester for the men's basketball team.

Get in a hole early, dig your way back.

Saturday was no different for the Crimson Eagles against Immaculata University as the visitors went down early in the contest only to scrape, claw, and fight their way back into it. Only once again, PBU's most recent effort proved to be too little, too late.

The Mighty Macs withstood a delayed Crimson Eagle run down the stretch Saturday afternoon during a 71-62 Immaculata triumph. Despite going up by as many as 18 (56-38) at one point midway through the second frame, the host group was forced to fend off a late rally from the Crimson and Black as PBU would pull to as close as six with just under a minute to go.

However, the Mighty Macs were able to keep the visitors at arms length thanks to five for six effort from the charity stripe over the final 30 seconds of play.

Immaculata sprinted out to a 38-29 halftime edge, fueled by a 50 percent shooting clip throughout the first period. However, PBU managed to clamp down during the second stanza, limiting the host group to 37.0 percent shooting over the final 20 minutes.

Nevertheless, the Crimson Eagles were hindered by a 19-8 deficiency in overall turnovers, a line that led to a 22-10 margin in points off of the giveaways for the Mighty Macs. Immaculata also enjoying a 40-29 advantage in points on the interior for the game.

Four different players registered 13 or more points for the host squad, paced by junior Rob Siter's 20 points on eight of 13 shooting. Rookie forward Jeff Bishop once again spear headed PBU's offensive attack, notching 19 points on eight of 12 shooting from the floor. Adam Derus chipped in with 15 points for PBU, a number that included four threes.

PBU will get back into action this Tuesday during a home tilt with Keystone College. Game time against the Giants is slated for 8:00 pm.