After having its 11-game winning streak snapped Wednesday, the University of Scranton men’s basketball team started another one Friday. But it wasn’t easy.
The Royals overcame a 13-point halftime deficit to defeat Goucher College in overtime, 74-71, in a Landmark Conference matchup in Towson, Maryland.
Trailing, 41-28, Scranton slowly chipped away at the deficit and took a 60-59 lead on a basket by Sammy Tornabene with 5:33 left in the second half. Ben Robinson followed with a 3-pointer, but Goucher hit three free throws in the final 1:39 of regulation to force overtime tied at 62.
Robinson and Jon Spatola hit 3-pointers to open the overtime and give the Royals a 68-62 lead. After the Gophers closed to within two, Brendan Carr hit a 3-pointer to put Scranton ahead by five. Two free throws by Carr and one by Spatola in the final 33 seconds sealed the victory.
Carr led the way for the Royals (8-2 league, 15-2 overall), who are ranked No. 21 in this week’s d3hoops.com Top 25 men’s poll, with 21 points. Tornabene added 16 points, Robinson had a career-high 15 points and Spatola totaled eight points, seven rebounds and four assists.
Scranton is scheduled to return to action Wednesday at Drew University.
Women’s basketball
At Towson, Maryland, the University of Scranton continued to roll with a 93-46 romp past Goucher College in Landmark Conference play.
The No. 2-ranked Lady Royals stormed to a 37-point halftime lead to improve to 10-0 in the conference and 17-0 overall.
Kaci Kranson scored 18 points to lead Scranton. Elizabeth Bennett added 14 points and Kaeli Romanowski totaled 10 points, eight rebounds, six steals and three assists.
Scranton next hosts Drew on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the John Long Center.