USIU Takes Care of Lead, Then Disposes of St. Francis

Midway through the second half and his U.S. International University men’s basketball team running comfortably on a 19-point lead, Gary Zarecky sat fidgeting on the bench.

“Did you see that?” Zarecky asked after his Gulls disposed of St. Francis (N.Y.), 95-77 at Golden Hall Friday night. “I didn’t know what to do. I tried crossing my legs. I tried uncrossing them.”

Zarecky and the Gulls haven’t had many chances to get comfortable in the second half this season. On only one other occasion has USIU (5-9) taken a lead into the second half and been able put the game away. That was a 112-76 victory over Maryland-Eastern Shore in the second game of the season.

Against St. Francis (5-5), USIU was able to expand a 49-37 halftime advantage and led by as many as 22 at 91-69 late in the game. The closest St. Francis could get in the second half was 55-45.

“One of our biggest problems has been the first 5 minutes of the second half,” Zarecky said. “Either we’ve faded or we let them back in.”

Which is exactly what USIU did the first time it met St. Francis, in the consolation game of the Dartmouth tournament Dec. 17. The Gulls led by 8 at the half, but faded fast in a 92-78 loss.

With the score 55-45, USIU scored 7 consecutive points and put together an 18-8 run for a 73-53 lead with 8:23 remaining.