SHANK LEADS SHEPHERD PAST ASSUMPTION

SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV -- Junior forward Danley Shank (Pond Bank, PA/Chambersburg HS) scored 19 of his game-high 28 points in the second half to lead Shepherd University to a 76-72 win over Assumption College in men's basketball action in first round action of the Clarion Hotel Tip-Off Tournament. Pfeiffer defeated Gannon, 85-61, in the early game.

Junior guard Chad Myers (Vinton, VA/ Hargarve Military Academy) added 11 points, while junior forward Darren Stackhouse (Alexandria, VA/Garrett CC) had nine points and hauled down a game-high 10 rebounds. Senior center Esosa Imoisili (Ellicott City, MD/Henderson State) contributed five points, five rebounds, and game-high seven blocked shots.

Elijah Bland poured in 24 points to lead Assumption. He was 6-of-17 from three-point range. Leroy Byron added 16 points.

Shank drained a three-pointer with 4:57 left in the game to give the Rams their first lead of the game at 65-64. Assumption's Josh Melucci hit a jumper to tie the game with 40 seconds left at 72-72, but freshman guard Thomas Carr (Toledo, OH/Hargrave Military Academy) drained four free throws in the game's final seconds to secure the victory for the Rams.

Shepherd improves to 1-0, while Assumption falls to 0-2. The Rams return to action on Saturday when they meet Pfeiffer in the championship game at 4:00 p.m.

Rico Grier scored 26 points and Damien Argrett added 21 and game-high eight rebounds to lead Pfeiffer(1-1) past Gannon (1-1). Gannon's Matt Jones led all scorers with 27 points. Geoff Husted and Bobby Bossman wers also in double figures for Gannon with 10 points each.