Published: December 14, 2007 11:55 pm         

Big second half carries Monroe past Allegany

CUMBERLAND — The Allegany College of Maryland Trojans led by as many as 11 points in the first half, but fell victim to cold shooting and turnovers after the break in a 69-53 loss to Monroe of Rochester, N.Y., in the annual Pepsi Christmas Classic on Friday night at Bob Kirk Arena.

In the first game, Hagerstown upset nationally-ranked Vincennes (Ind.), 69-66.

Due to the severe weather forecast today the schedule has been moved up with Allegany to play Vincennes at 3 p.m. following a 1 o’clock clash between Hagerstown and Monroe.

Chris Rogers scored 20 points and Jonathan Moore added 15 as Monroe lifted its record to 9-2. The Tribunes, who finished second in last year’s NJCAA Division II National Tournament, entered the Classic ranked No. 9 in the nation.

The loss snapped a string of 24 straight wins by Allegany in the Classic. The Trojans will be taking a 5-7 record into today’s game.

Sophomore forward George DeGroat got Allegany off to a strong start by hitting his first 12 shots and finished with 20 points and six rebounds. Calvin Lee and Ryan Burts contributed 12 points each.

Monroe out-rebounded Allegany 32-22 with Rogers pulling down nine. The Trojans had 24 turnovers with 14 coming in the second half.

Allegany continues to play without starting point guard Steven Shepp and had only nine players available Friday.

“We’re plenty deep, but we’re not deep where it counts in playing with heart,” said ACM coach Mike Baker. “Nine guys are enough and we need to get it done. We have to play with some toughness and not break down. We need to get nasty and get around people on defense.”

Allegany led 19-9 after a DeGroat bucket at the 11:23 mark and had a 28-17 advantage with 5:35 left in the half after a Lee rebound dunk and a DeGroat layup. The Trojans were still ahead 32-29 at halftime.

“The first 12 minutes I thought we were playing very good,” said Baker. “We were moving the ball and making good passes. Then we got away from it. They gave us opportunities in the second half and then we would come down and turn it over.”

Taking advantage of Allegany turnovers, Monroe put together a nine-point run and took its first lead at 40-38 with a Moore layup at the 14:10 mark in the second half. Two Moore foul shots made it 42-38 and the Tribunes never trailed again.

Trevon Charles converted two free throws to push the margin to double digits at 56-45 with 8:41 remaining. Allegany didn’t score again after a spinning shot by DeGroat with 4:55 on the clock, and Monroe put the final nine points on the board.

• In the first game, Kelvin Bright and Travis May scored 14 points in leading a balanced Hagerstown attack in the upset over Vincennes. William Taylor added 12 points and Calvin Johnson had 10 as the Hawks lifted their record to 10-2 under first-year coach Terry Truax.

Vincennes, which entered the Classic ranked No. 11 in the NJCAA Division I poll with a 10-1 record, was led by Zvonk Buljan with 14 points. Devon Dumes and John Freeman had 11 each.

Hagerstown led 38-36 at halftime. The Hawks took advantage of Vincennes only making 7-of-17 foul shots.

Vincennes defeated Allegany, 92-72, in Indiana in the annual Kiwanis Trailblazer Invitational in November.

Allegany and Vincennes played in the Pepsi Classic two years ago when the event was staged at Frostburg State’s Bobcat Arena due to renovations to the ACM gym. The Trojans won that meeting 75-62. Vincennes leads the overall series 26-16, but Allegany has won 11 of 15 meetings here.