The Monmouth-Roseville Titans basketball team returned to action on Wednesday night in the 10 & 32 Tip-Off Classic from Orion High School. It was the second game of action in the Thanksgiving tournament, as the Titans fell to Abingdon-Avon on Tuesday night in their first game of the regular season. Facing off with Mercer County in a potential rebound spot for Monmouth-Roseville, the Titans would fall to the Golden Eagles 58-43.
A defensive battle early in the first quarter would bring the game to just 4-4 with a couple minutes left in the quarter. An Ethan Clark jumper and Cee Sarcomo layup gave the Titans their first lead at 8-6, however a Golden Eagles three at the end of the quarter gave MerCo the 11-8 lead after one full quarter. Sarcomo and Clark would continue their scoring streak with early buckets in the second quarter. Both players would later combine for a pair of threes near the end of the half to guide Monmouth-Roseville to the 20-19 lead at the break.
Ethan Clark and junior forward Nick Huston would be the hot hands coming out of halftime, putting M-R up 25-22 early in the third. After falling down 30-27 midway through the third, Andy Myers and Ethan Clark put the Titans back on top with back to back scores, however this would be the start of a Mercer County hot streak, as they would rattle of 11 unanswered points to take a 41-32 lead going into the final quarter.
Brady McPeek continued a hot run for Mercer County with a three ball to open the third quarter, on route to 19 points for the sophomore. Clark answered back with a three to cut the lead back down to single digits, but that would be the last time the Titans would be in striking distance, as Mercer County would go on to close out a 58-43 win. In the final stat book for the Titans, Ethan Clark led the way with 15 points while Cee Sarcomo added in 11. Now sitting at 0-2, Monmouth-Roseville will continue Orion Tip-Off tournament action on Friday night against the Ridgewood Spartans.
For the replay of the WMOI radio broadcast of the game, go to the SPORTS PODCAST section.
