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Geneva College Athletics

official home of the geneva college golden tornadoes
geneva college golden tornadoes
geneva college golden tornadoes
Moose2
73
Geneva GEN 4-6
77
Winner Oglethorpe OUM 7-4
Geneva GEN
4-6
73
Final
77
Oglethorpe OUM
7-4
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Geneva GEN 31 42 73
Oglethorpe OUM 41 36 77

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Geneva Men Fall in Championship Game

Atlanta, GA—The Geneva men's basketball team took on the host team, Oglethorpe University, in the Holiday Inn Express and Suites Tournament Championship game on Saturday evening.  Unfortunately for Geneva, the Golden Tornadoes were not able to overcome the hot shooting Stormy Petrels, as the host team hit 16 3-point shots, and a late comeback fell just short, 77-73.  Geneva's record dropped to 4-6, while Oglethorpe improved to 7-4.
 
Geneva took its only lead of the game right at the start, going up 4-3 on a layup from senior Jimmy Leichliter.  Oglethorpe took back the lead, but Geneva hung tough and was down just 20-18 with nine minutes to go in the half.  However, Oglethorpe scored the next 11 points to take a 31-18 lead.  Geneva battled and cut the lead to ten, 41-31, as the teams headed into the halftime break.  Leichliter led the team with 10 points in the half.
 
Oglethorpe jumped on Geneva coming out of the break, going on an 11-2 run to stretch its lead out to 51-32.  Oglethorpe still led, 70-50, with six minutes to go when Geneva mounted a furious comeback, spurred primarily from four straight 3-point shots from Leichliter.  Geneva continued to chip away, and a 3-point play from sophomore Ethan Moose cut the lead to 75-73 with eleven seconds to play, but Oglethorpe made two free throws to clinch the victory, and Geneva fell 77-73.
 
"That was one of the best shooting teams I have seen in a long time at the Division III level," Head Coach Jeff Santarsiero said after the game, as Oglethorpe went 16-39 from long range.  "We battled back but we just ran out of time.  Despite the loss, it was a great tournament for us.  Now we head home and turn our attention back to conference play."
 
It turned out to be a big weekend for Leichliter.  A night after hitting seven 3-pointers and finishing with a game high 25 points, Leichliter again led the team with 24 points, including five 3-pointers.  For his efforts, Leichliter was named to the all-tournament team.  Moose added 17 points, and combined with his efforts from the previous night, joined Leichliter on the all-tournament team.  Junior David Oliver had his best offensive game of the year, contributing 12 points and 7 rebounds.
 
Geneva now turns its attention to conference play as the Golden Tornadoes head to rival Grove City on Wednesday, January 3, for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.  The team then returns home for a matchup with Thomas More on Saturday, January 6, at 3:00 p.m.
 
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