The University of Mary Washington men's basketball team overcame a halftime deficit to score 49 second half points in an 83-72 defeat of St. Elizabeth's College on Monday afternoon in the consolation of the Franklin & Marshall College Holiday Tournament in Lancaster, Pa. The Eagles, who were led by a career-high 25 points from Riley Welch, improve to 9-5 on the season.
The Eagles fell behind at the outset, digging a 7-0 hole in the opening minutes. UMW cut the deficit to one, at 11-10, with 12:58 left on a Ra'Shawn Cook basket, and gained the lead for the first time on a Welch bucket with 10:42 left before halftime. That basket and ensuing free throw started nine straight points from Welch, who would connect a pair of three pointers to build a 21-13 Eagle lead.
An 11-2 run for St. Elizabeth's helped them regain the lead at 29-28 with 3:10 remaining, and they would hold the lead until halftime, at which the score stood at 37-34. In the second, the UMW offense caught fire, starting with a thee pointer from Da'Shawn Cook eight seconds into play. A Cook jumper one minute later tied the score, and an ensuing three pointer from junior Drew Johnson gave the Eagles the lead at 44-41.
With the score tied at 50-50, a pair of Ra'Shawn Cook layups upped the Eagle lead to four, and a three pointer from Da'Shawn Cook built the Eagle lead to seven. The streak would extend to 14 straight points on a three point play from Brendan Shaver with 11:15 remaining. From there, the lead would remain in double figures, extending to as many as 20, before claiming the 12-point win.
The Eagles shot 32-70 from the field (45.7%), making 9-29 three point attempts and 10-17 free throws. St. Elizabeth's shot 27-59 from the field (45.8%), making 8-20 three point tries and 10-16 free throws. UMW forced 25 turnovers.
Welch led the Eagles with 25 points on 9-21 shooting (3-9 three point FG), as well as 4-6 free throws. Da'Shawn Cook scored 16 points, and Drew Johnson added 14.
The Eagles will return to action on January 8 when they host Randolph-Macon College at 7 p.m.