Men's Basketball Splits Opening Weekend Games

The Men's basketball team is off to a 1-1 start after the weekend's Clarion Hotel Conference Challenge.

The Rams beat Slippery Rock 83-70 in the opening game and then fell in double overtime to Edinboro, 106-95.

Though the Rams started their season with an opening game win for the first time since 2006, Shepherd coach Justin Namolik didn't want to put to much weight in the loss or victory.

"It's a long season, I told the guys after last night's win to forget about, so I'll tell them to put tonight behind them." Namolik said.

The Rams were tied at halftime against Slippery Rock at 31-31, but pulled away after the halftime break, taking an 18 point lead as they cruised to victory.

After the Rams win, senior guard Jonathan Motichka talked about the relief of getting the season started with a win.

"It's great to get are first win in the first game," Motichka said, "I think we finally bought in to playing defense for the whole 40 minutes."

Motichka led the Rams with 27 points and four steals while the team limited themselves to seven turnovers, down from their 15 a game average from last season.

The Rams second game of the season proved to be more difficult for Shepherd, as the Rams led most the night put couldn't finish off Fighting Scots.

Shepherd looked to have the game in hand after a series of technicals by Edinboro's Byron Knight allowed the Rams to take a 10 point lead.

Fighting Scot junior guard Clint Nicholson knocked down a series of outside shots to cut away at the Rams lead both in regulation and in overtime to lead his team to victory.

The Fighting Scots pushed Shepherd into two overtimes before pulling away in a game that proved to be as much about attrition as it was about shooting.

Motichka fouled out along with senior forward Dave Karlson, freshman guard Marcus Pilgrim, sophomore guard Malik Dauda, freshman guard Brantley Osborne and sophomore forward Sidney McCray.

Shepherd's first road and conference game will have the Rams headed to Alderson-Broaddus Wednesday, looking to keep their record above the .500 mark.

Though the Rams split their opening games at home, a number of younger players have stepped up and given the team some much needed depth.

Pilgrim gave the Rams a total of 22 points in both games, while Dauda's 11 points and nine rebounds in 54 minutes were a needed boost for Shepherd.

Osborne chipped in 57 minutes while producing 32 points and four steals.

Along with last year's core of Moore, Motichka and Karlson, along with a number of other returning players will give the Rams plenty of options as the season rolls on.

Two games in is too early to make an assessment on team, but the Shepherd men's team has the tools to make for a successful season.