true Gwynedd Mercy 77, Montreat 67BOX SCOREÂ
WEST PALM BEACH, FL. -- Gwynedd Mercy won its fourth-straight game, defeating Montreat, 77-67, in the first game of the Rappaport Holiday Tournament hosted by Northwood University.
The Griffins (7-3) advance to face the host Seahawks in the championship tomorrow at 7 p.m. Northwood is coached by the legendary Rollie Massimino, former coach for Villanova and local legend, who helped the Wildcats to the NCAA Division I Championship in 1985.
Julian Hyden (Trevose, Pa./Bensalem) had a strong second half, scoring 16 of his career-high 21 points. The sophomore also grabbed nine rebounds for a personal best. Freshman Arron Goodman (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock South) also pulled down nine boards while adding 17 points.
Gwynedd held a 10-point lead midway in the first before the Cavaliers worked back in it to lead 38-35 at halftime.
La'Bris Adams led Montreat (7-6) with a game-high 23 points. Myles Marshall added 11 points and 11 rebounds for the NAIA school.
Back-to-back three-pointers from Hyden erased a five-point hole, midway in the second (52-51), to finally give Gwynedd a lead. Montreat answered with a trey to reclaim the lead, but it was Justin Knight (Mays Landing, N.J./Oakcrest) draining his three-ball to put the Griffins back on top for good.
After getting to the free-throw line just twice in the first, the Griffins would go 15-for-21 in the second to help pull away.
For the game, GM went 26-of-65 (40.0%), hit eight three-pointers, and won the battle on the glass, 37-32.
Knight would finish with 15 points, and add five rebounds and three steals. Sophomore Darnell Artis (Philadelphia, Pa./LaSalle College H.S.) chipped in 10 points and five assists.
