Gerry Wixted, Dickinson
CARLISLE, Pa. - The #10-ranked Dickinson men's basketball team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament, turning back visiting Regis College, 74-64, on Friday night. Senior forward Gerry Wixted (Moorestown, N.J./Camden Catholic) had a monster game, scoring a game-high 34 points, hitting 5-of-6 three-pointers while going 7-for-8 from the free throw line.
The Red Devils jumped out to a quick 7-2 advantage on a Brandon Angradi (Milford, Pa./Delaware Valley) three-pointer at the 15:56 mark. Regis pulled even before a 10-3 run put Dickinson in front, 17-9, at the midpoint of the half.
Angradi put-back a rebound and classmate Ted Hinnenkamp (York, Pa./York Suburban) scored off a steal to stretch the lead to nine, with 6:10 to play in the half. Regis found some momentum, taking 25-24 lead, with just 1:25 on the clock.
The teams traded field-goals and Wixted buried a three-pointer to end the first half with Dickinson on top, 29-27.
Hinnenkamp scored off a steal by Angradi to open the second half. Hinnenkamp fed Wixted for a lay-up, and Wixted followed a blocked shot with a three-pointer to put the Devils up, 36-29, three minutes into the half. The Pride rallied once again, putting together an 8-0 run to take the lead at the 13:44 mark.
Wixted countered, scoring the next four baskets for the Devils, including a pair of three-pointers to give Dickinson a five-point advantage with 8:43 remaining in the game. Sam Jean-Gilles finished an assist from Hector Heredia before Steve Collins (Rydal, Pa./La Salle College) knocked down a three-pointer to stretch the lead to six.
Jean-Gilles came right back with a three-pointer and then converted a pair of free throws to pull the Pride within two, 52-50, with 6:55 remaining in regulation.
Hinnenkamp sank two free throws and Wixted sank his fifth three-pointer of the game for a six-point lead. Regis kept battling, pulling within one behind a three-pointer from Chris Keaton and a lay-up by Jeff Tagger, Jr.
Hinnenkamp put-back a rebound but Jean-Gilles tied the game, 59-59, with a three-point play. Jean-Gilles hit a three-pointer after Wixted hit a pair of free throws, to put Regis up, 62-61, with 2:13 on the clock. Collins and Angradi answered huge, draining back-to-back three-pointers for a 67-62 advantage, with just 56 seconds to play. Following a turnover, the Pride was forced to put the Devils on the foul line. Hinnenkamp hit 3-of-4 while Wixted and Angradi closed out the game with four straight, in the final seven seconds.
Wixted added seven rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots to his game-high 34 points. Hinnenkamp finished with 15 points and seven rebounds, hitting 5-of-8 shots and 5-of-6 free throws. He dished out five assists, made four steals and blocked two shots as well.
Angradi matched Hinnenkamp with a game-high five assists, to go with 10 points, and three steals. Collins added eight points, hitting a pair of three-pointers.
Jean-Gilles led Regis (19-9) with 18 points and five rebounds. Tagger, Jr. added 12 and Chris Leak, Jr. tallied 10 points and eight rebounds.
The Red Devils improve to 23-5 on the season. They advance to the second round to face Albertus Magnus at 7:00 pm on Saturday night at the Kline Center. Despite the start of spring break, a capacity crowd filled the Kline. A special thanks to all the fans for their support on Friday night.