Mount Saint Mary's Holds On To Advance To The First Round To Take On Top Seed Villanova

 

Mount Saint Mary's edged New Orleans by a point Tuesday 67-66 to get the chance to take on top seed and defending national champion Villanova Thursday. 

Junior Robinson along with Miles Wilson combined for 40 points. "according to http://mountathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2016-17/releases/20170314wucv5t

The win over New Orleans was the Mount's second NCAA Tournament victory in its Division I era, joining a 69-60 win over Coppin State in the opening round back in 2008. "according to http://mountathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2016-17/releases/20170314wucv5t

Robinson scored a game-high 23 points, including 15 in the second half, to collect the 12th20-plus point output of his career. Robinson went 9-of-14 from the field, tying his career-high for most field goals made, to go along with a 3-for-6 mark from long range. "according to http://mountathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2016-17/releases/20170314wucv5t

Wilson scored 12 of his 17 points in the first half of play, and also added 11 rebounds in the contest to record his second straight double-double. The rookie went 5-of-12 in the tilt and 3-for-4 from downtown as he and Robinson combined for six of the team's 10 three-pointers. "according to http://mountathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2016-17/releases/20170314wucv5t

Greg Alexander chipped in with nine points off the bench, knocking down all three of his three-pointers in the second half. "according to http://mountathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2016-17/releases/20170314wucv5t

After missing their first three shots to open the contest, the Mountaineers knocked down each of their next four, including three-pointers from Wilson and Robinson, to tie things up at 10-10 heading into the first media timeout. "according to http://mountathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2016-17/releases/20170314wucv5t

Wilson's second three-pointer of the game minutes later capped off a 13-1 Mountaineer run as they extended their advantage to 18-11 midway through the half.

Buckets from Christavious Gill and Erik Thomas brought New Orleans back within three, but the Mount answered with a 12-4 rally over a five-minute stretch to grab its largest lead of the half, 30-19, with 4:20 showing on the clock.

New Orleans registered 10 of the final 12 points of the period to pull within three, 32-29, heading into the halftime break. "according to http://mountathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2016-17/releases/20170314wucv5t

Wilson and Robinson both knocked down three-pointers in the early stages of the second half to stretch the Mount lead to 40-31. The Privateers responded with the next eight points, including a pair of buckets from Travis Thibodeaux, to pull within one, 40-39. "according to http://mountathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2016-17/releases/20170314wucv5t

A traditional three-point play from Robinson two minutes later pushed the Mountaineer lead to 49-43, but back-to-back jumpers on the other end from Nate Frye, followed by a bucket from Thibodeaux tied things up at 49-49 at the 11:00 mark. "according to http://mountathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2016-17/releases/20170314wucv5t

With the Mount holding a slim lead with under seven minutes to play, Alexander knocked down his third three-pointer of the half to push the Mount's lead to 61-55. "according to http://mountathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2016-17/releases/20170314wucv5t