Bears Fall To Keystone With Another Poor Second Half

(LaPLUME, PA)  Jon Matzelle (Queens, NY / St. Francis Prep) had the best game of his sophomore season leading the Bears with a 16 point, 10 rebound double-double as Keystone College outscored St. Joseph's 49-26 in the second half en route to a 71-47 victory.

St. Joseph's kept within reach of Keystone preventing the Giants from building more than a five point advantage and trailing by only one at halftime, 22-21.  Both teams struggled throughout the frame with Keystone shooting 31% and St. Joseph's only 25%.

A basket from Wilkerson Exantus(Brooklyn, NY / Nazareth) on the opening possession of the second half gave the Bears the lead for the third time in the game, but Keystone took back the lead on their next possession and wouldn't trail again for the remainder of the game.  Keystone connected on 59% of their attempts in the half and St. Joseph's did not score a field goal in the last seven minutes allowing the Giants close out the game on a 17-2 run and the lopsided victory.

Matzelle's double-double was the 10th of his young career and the third by a Bear this season.  Lew Monaco(Staten Island, NY / Msgr. Farrell) playing in his first game this season, added 10 points in a reserve role.  Monaco, a junior guard, is a new addition to Coach Joseph Cocozello's squad during the winter break to help fill the void left by four reserves that were declared academically ineligible after the fall semester.

Keystone recorded four players in double figures led by a 20 point, 10 rebound double-double from Michael Kelly.

St. Joseph's falls to 4-10 and Keystone improves to 8-4.  The Bears host Vaughn College on Wednesday, January 21st in a Hudson Valley Men's Athletic Conference matchup at Brooklyn Technical High School.  Game time is scheduled for 7:30 PM.