The University boys took a big step in defense of their PAAC North championship Friday night with a 60-53 win at Seton Catholic.
Matt Jones led University with 18 points, making 6 of 10 three-point shots. Camden Brown added 15 points and Larry Pierce had 10 to give the Trailblazers three players in double figures.
Freshman point guard Sabien Cain filled the stat sheet with nine points, eight rebounds and six assists and was a perfect 6-for-6 at the foul line in the fourth quarter. Mitchell Martin had five points, seven rebounds and six assists.
University threatened to make the game a runaway in the first quarter, hitting their first five three-point shots against the Cardinals zone and led 21-11 at the end of the quarter. Jones hit his first four triples and had 12 in the quarter.
Seton Catholic outscored the Blazers 19-10 in the second quarter and pulled within 31-30 by halftime. University had nine assists on 11 baskets in the first half, but committed 11 turnovers to let the Cardinals back in the game.
The Cardinals had a 35-34 lead in the third quarter before Brown ignited a 14-point University run scoring at the rim off an assist from Pierce. Martin scored a basket, Jones hit another three-pointer off a Cain feed and Brown scored on a Martin assist. The Trailblazers held the ball for the last 1:24 of the quarter and Nate Jeffrey hit a three pointer at the buzzer to put University up 46-35.
University took their largest lead of the night at 48-35 when Pierce scored off a nice assist from Brown with 7:04 remaining. Pierce had University’s only other field goal of the fourth quarter as the Trailblazers made 10 of 13 free throws in the final period to hold off the Cardinals. Seton Catholic pulled within 56-50 with one minute to play but Pierce and Cain made two free throws each to put the game away.
“This was a great, tough win on the road in a rowdy gym,” said University coach Brandon Lafferman. “I thought our guys did a great job with the halftime defensive adjustments. We found a way to get the job done despite way too many turnovers.”
After allowing Seton Catholic to make 7 of 9 field goals in the second quarter, University clamped down defensively holding Seton Catholic to just 2 of 10 in the third quarter as the Blazers regained control of the game. The Cardinals shot just 35 percent in the second half after making 50 percent of their shots in the first half.
The Trailblazers committed 23 turnovers on the night. University won the rebounding battle 25-22 and made 14 of 18 foul shots.
Jake Moynihan had a game-high 24 points and nine rebounds for Seton Catholic.
University is now 9-4 overall and 2-0 in the PAAC. The Trailblazers have a pair of home games next weekend at The U Center, facing Anderson Prep Academy Friday night in a PAAC North game and Sectional 42 rival Scecina on Saturday.
Seton Catholic is 5-6 overall, 1-2 in the conference.
UNIVERSITY 60, SETON CATHOLIC 53
University FG FT TP PF
Kasey Ash-Simpson 0-0 0-0 0 1
Nate Jeffrey 1-1 0-0 3 0
Sabien Cain 1-4 6-6 9 2
Matt Jones 6-10 0-1 18 1
Larry Pierce 3-6 4-6 10 3
Camden Brown 5-10 4-5 15 3
Seth Hogg 0-0 0-0 0 1
Mitchell Martin 2-4 0-0 5 1
Totals 18-35 14-18 60 12
Score by Quarters
University 21 10 15 14 – 60
Seton Catholic 11 19 5 18 – 53
University 3-point shooting (10-19) Jones 6-10, Cain 1-2, Brown 1-2, Martin 1-2, Jeffrey 1-1, Pierce 0-2.
University rebounds (24) Cain 8, Martin 7, Pierce 4, Jones 2, Brown 2, Ash-Simpson 1.