RedStorm men take down Pomeroys

Rio Grande Sports Information
     RIO GRANDE, Ohio - Delon McCloud scored 18 of his team-best 23 points in the second half as the University of Rio Grande held off St. Mary-of-the-Woods College, 79-68, Saturday afternoon, in River States Conference men's basketball action at the Newt Oliver Arena.
     The RedStorm won for a fourth consecutive time, improving to 11-10 overall and 6-3 in league play.
     The win was also the 100th in the career of Rio's sixth-year head coach Ryan Arrowood.
     SMWC slipped to 10-12 overall and 4-6 in the RSC as a result of the loss.
     McCloud, a senior from Grand Rapids, Mich., helped the RedStorm pull away after the two teams played to a 38-all halftime lead.
     Rio Grande was clinging to a 50-48 lead after a bucket by the Pomeroys' Malachi Pearson with 11:55 left in the game, but McCloud responded with three-point goals on each of the RedStorm's next three possessions to produce his team's biggest lead of the day, 59-48, with 10:19 remaining.
     SMWC refused to fold its tent, though, drawing to within four points, 68-64, following a layup by Jared Bonds with 3:02 still to play.
     The hosts maintained, however, using a 7-2 run which was capped by a three-pointer by senior Jaelin Johnson (Fairmont, WV) to make it a three-possession lead, 75-66, with just 38 seconds remaining.
     McCloud drained a pair of free throws with 23.3 seconds left to ice the victory and senior Jaylin Fox (South Haven, MI) set the final score via a highlight reel dunk with 11 seconds showing after a turnover by the Pomeroys.
     In addition to his point total, McCloud also had a team-high three assists and tied juniors Kuba Senczyszyn (Algonquin, IL) and James Wright (Detroit, MI) with five rebounds.
     Johnson and senior Trey Robertson (Waverly, OH) netted 12 points each in the win, while Senczyszyn and Wright tossed in 11 points apiece.
     The RedStorm shot 47.5 percent overall (28-for-59) and hit nine three-pointers, including five by McCloud.
     St. Mary-of-the-Woods actually shot the ball better (29-for-55, 52.7%) and outrebounded Rio, 32-28, but failed to post a third win in as many seasons against the RedStorm.
     Ellis Todd scored a game-high 24 points in a losing cause, while Quamar Hobbs tossed in 13 and DeYon Bell finished with eight points and nine rebounds.
     The Pomeroys' leading scorer for the season, Taray Howell (15.5 ppg), did not play. Reasons for his absence were not immediately disclosed.
     Rio Grande is slated to return to the court on Tuesday night when it travels to rival Shawnee State University.
     Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.