ROSEMONT, PA. -- Rich Dunham's three-pointer midway in the second half put Gwynedd Mercy ahead for good as the Griffins held off a late chance at the buzzer to win their sixth straight Colonial States Athletic Conference contest in a 72-71 victory at Rosemont on Wednesday evening. With the win the Griffins remain atop the CSAC standings.
Rip Engel led GMercyU (14-2, 9-1 CSAC) with a team-high 23 points and five assists. Dunham finished with 10 points and added four rebounds and four assists.
 
Trailing in the opening moments of the game, the Griffins took their first lead (12-11) on a Dunham fast-break layup off a steal at the 15:33 mark. A Jeff Seigafuse triple would give Gwynedd their last lead of the first half at 22-21 with just over eleven minutes remaining.  The Ravens would retake the lead later in the stanza and later take their largest lead of the game at 42-33 with 3:26 before the half.  Jaye'Lyn Peebles would answer with a three pointer to cut into the Rosemont lead while Engel would add another trifecta with 54 seconds left to cut the deficit to two (43-41) heading into intermission.
 
Rosemont stretched their lead to eight, 52-44, with just over fifteen minutes remaining. The Ravens would hold their edge until a Dunham three pointer would help Gwynedd retake the lead 57-56 with 11:57 to go. An Engel free throw would give the Griffins their largest lead of the game at 66-58 with just under eight minutes remaining. 
 
In the closing moments, the Ravens would cut the lead to three (72-69) with a 1:24 on the clock. Rosemont would capitalize on a Griffin turnover with 37 seconds remaining, to turn it into a pair of free throws and making the game a one-point contest. After another ill-timed turnover, the Griffins got a key defensive stop to hold onto the 72-71 victory.
 
For the game, the Griffins shot 25-of-50 (50.0%) from the floor and made 11 team three pointers. 
 
Team rebounds were deadlocked at 31-31, Will Davis grabbed six, to go along with nine points for GMercyU.
 
Mekhi Clemons led Rosemont with 23 points, as the Ravens shot 24-of-53 (45.3%) from the field.
 
The Griffins will return home on Saturday at 1 p.m. when they will host Cairn University at the Griffin Complex here in CSAC action.