ROSEMONT, Pa. – The Haverford College men's basketball team overcame a 12-point second half deficit to record its second consecutive win of the 2019-20 season, a 79-74 victory at Rosemont. The Fords (2-0) were facing that 12-0 deficit early in the second half, but rallied to avenge one of their non-conference losses from a season ago.
In a back-and-forth battle all night, the lead changed hands 12 different times. Rosemont's double-digit lead came after a 10-2 run early in the second half. However, the Fords countered that with a 7-0 run of their own to trim the deficit to 50-45. The Ravens held that second half lead all the way up until the 7:39 mark before Nate Torres converted an old-fashioned three-point play to give his side a 57-56 lead.
The lead changed hands five times in the second half before Jonathan Lang's three-pointer with 4:21 remaining in regulation gave Haverford a lead it did not relinquish the rest of the evening. The Fords pushed their advantage all the way to 74-67 with just over a minute to play. The Ravens had the game down to a single possession with 26 seconds remaining, but the Fords went 5-for-6 at the line the rest of the way to secure the victory.
Jesse Turkson posted his second straight double-double to start the year as he led the Fords with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Lang and Torres joined him in double figures with 16 and 13 points, respectively. Eight different Fords recorded at least five points on the night. That teamwork was evident throughout as 19 of Haverford's 25 baskets were assisted. Lang's six dimes were a team high as six different players had multiple assists.
Rosemont slightly outscored the Fords from the field, but a huge 23-for-26 performance at the line from Haverford proved to be the difference. Torres scored seven of his 13 points at the line on just eight attempts while Turkson knocked down each of his five attempts.
Prior to Rosemont gaining control during the middle part of the game, Haverford held the lead for the majority of the first half, but a late push from the Ravens gave their side a 40-33 lead heading into the locker rooms. With Haverford up one, 21-20, the Fords went cold from the field as they made just three shots from the field over the final nine minutes of the half. Nevertheless, Haverford made that up in a big way over the final 20 minutes with 18 trips to the free throw line, knocking down 16 shots from the charity stripe.
The Fords finished the night with a commanding 44-27 advantage on the glass thanks to all five starters grabbing at least four rebounds. Those added possessions overcame an 18-11 disparity in turnovers as the Ravens came up with eight steals while also blocking six shots. Marlon Sharpton led Rosemont on the night with 21 points, including a perfect 9-for-9 showing at the line while every Ravens player contributed at least three points.
Men's basketball will look to continue its winning ways this weekend as the Fords are back on the road to take on Penn State Harrisburg this Saturday. That game is slated for a 1 p.m. start before the Fords return to Gooding Arena for back-to-back home dates starting next week.