Full game replay can be found here: https://youtu.be/dJ3gsvythPI
The Dons won the prior matchup at College Park by 17 behind a three point assault but the Falcons somehow added some size and have been a different team recently.
Cole Gwaltney got the start at point and was brilliant, pushing the pace and probing the defense all night long. Sam Bishop was again a man on a mission and he opened the scoring with a nice drive on the first possession. Justin Tan also got the starting nod and confidently hit a huge three to tie the game at 5. Bishop found Braedon Christie for a hoop then hit a nice fadeaway in the lane to put the Dons up 9-5. The Falcons fought back to tie the game at 9 before Dylan Rocca found Maddox Malm for a bucket to take the lead back. Bishop added a corner three off an inbounds play to give the Dons the 14-11 lead going into the second.
The Falcons stormed back with back-to-back pick and roll plays from #3 to #35 putting them up 15-14. Rocca found Bishop for a fearless drive to the hoop and Gwaltney penetrated to find Bishop again for a beautiful reverse finish, Dons up 19-15. Drew McKenzie started flexing on D with two blocks and more to come later. After the Falcons tied the game again at 19, Malm threaded the needle to Christie off an inbounds play who was fouled and converted both free throws for the 21-19 lead going into the locker room at half.
The Dons first bucket came a couple minutes into the third when Christie found Morales down low to go back up 23-21. Another Bishop drive extended the lead to four before Christie was called for a moving screen, his fourth foul of the contest, sending him to the bench. Bishop, who has look possessed on defense as of late, had a great steal that he converted into a fastbreak layup finding Gwaltney for the score to go up 27-25. The Dons were scoreless over the last 2:45 but the Falcons managed to tie it up 27 all going into the final stanza.
Ominous start to the fourth as College Park hit a three going up 30-27. But McKenzie ignited us with a huge block that resulted in a turnover out of bounds. On the next play, Nico Ortman made a Curry-esque one handed pass with his left from the top of the key to Bishop for the score. Two Bishop free throws a minute later put the Dons back on top 31-30 until the next possession when the Falcons scored on a drive to take a 32-31 lead with just over four minutes to play.
Both teams were held scoreless for over three minutes until Gwaltney came up with one of the biggest clutch plays of the year scoring on a crafty runner over #3 and drawing the foul. Gwaltney stepped to the line, unofficially a perfect 11 for 11 on the season, and calmly buried the free throw to put us up 34-32. After both teams exchanged missed shots, McKenzie had another monumental block on #3 as the ball caromed out of bounds with 11.9 seconds to go.
From there, an epic 4D chess match ensued as both coaches made counter moves and multiple timeouts were called. Coach Thomas ended up with the checkmate as he showed a 2-3 that was really a box-in-one, pairing Bishop with the inbounder #11 and he came through with a huge steal to secure the win. Bishop was fouled and ended up making one of two for the 35-32 final.
The Dons were led by another standout performance from Bishop with 19 points while Gwaltney added 5 and Christie 4. The Falcons were paced by #15 with 8 and #35 with 6. Both teams were fairly cold from deep with College Park with a slight 3-2 advantage.
The Dons move to 7-14 on the season and 3-8 in league play. The final game of the season will be Friday, February 11th at 4pm against Clayton Valley Charter. Go Dons!!!
