Gwynedd Valley, Pa. - (2/20/2023) - #3 Gwynedd Mercy University (14-12) will advance to the Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Men's Basketball Semifinals after tonight's 95-75 triumph over #6 Marywood University (10-16). The Pacers looked to control the contest early, 8-3 (17:38), but the Griffins' up-tempo game plan and sharp shooting - 21-of-37 (.568) from the field and 7-of-16 (.438) from three - overcame for a 10-point halftime advantage, 51-41 (0:02), and a walk away postseason win.

Griffin Highlights

• Gwynedd Mercy University matched a season-high 95 points with a .528 (38-of-72) field goal percentage, a .407 (11-of-27), and a eight free throws (8-of-14, .571).
• In a torrid first half, freshmen guards D.J. Johnson (Norristown, Pa.) and Thomas Brown (Philadelphia, Pa.) joined junior guard JoHaan Vinson (Philadelphia, Pa.) on the perimeter, while sophomore forward Dom Thomas (Mullica Hill, N.J.) did the dirty work underneath. The first three all went 2-of-4 (.500) from three-point range, while the last scraped together 11 points, six rebounds, and two assists in the period.
• The Griffins shot 21-of-37 (.568) from the field, 7-of-16 (.438) from three, and 2-of-5 (.400) from the free throw line in the opening half.
• Five Griffins finished in double figures. Brown, Thomas, and Johnson all scored season-highs.
• Brown led the group with a game-high 21 points. He was 9-of-18 (.500) from the field and 3-of-6 (.500) from three-point range, while totaling three rebounds and two assists.
• Thomas recorded seven rebounds and two assists while hitting 8-of-13 (.615) from the field and all three of his free throws (3-of-3, 1.000) for 19 points.
• Johnson finished with 18 points, six rebounds, five assists, and five steals.
• Vinson totaled 16 points, nine rebounds, six assists, two blocks, and three steals.
• Junior guard Manny Clark (Pottsgrove, Pa.) was the fifth Griffin in double figures with 11 points in excess of seven rebounds, an assist, and a steal.

Gwynedd Mercy University travels to #2 Neumann University on Wednesday, February 22, for a 7:00 p.m. AEC Semifinal. The winner will meet the victor of the #1 Marymount University/#4 Immaculata University semifinal in a Saturday, February 25, AEC title bout.