Nov. 18, 2007

Box Score

ASTON, Pa.- First-year Head Coach Mike Gallagher and his coaching staff are off to a great start opening the 2007-08 season with back to back win's over PSU-Brandywine and Franklin & Marshall at the 2007 Rotary Tip-Off Tournament hosted by the Diplomats in Lancaster, Pa.

 

After a 79-72 over PSU-Brandywine on Friday night the Knights advanced to the final game of the tournament where they faced off against tournament host Franklin & Marshall in the tournament final. Neumann finished the weekend 2-0 marking their best start in recent years.

 

"This is a great start for us," stated Head Coach Mike Gallagher. "We still have a lot to work on but at least we are heading in the right direction."

 

Derahn Patrick went 12-for-13 from the free-throw line for a game-high 27 points to help Neumann go undefeated on the weekend and capture the 2007 Rotary Tip-Off Tournament, edging Franklin & Marshall 66-63.

 

Neumann was down nine at the half but battled back in the second half and outscored Franklin & Marshall 39-25. The Knights went 17-20 from the foul line and caused 12 turnovers in the second half, converting those Diplomat mistakes into points for the lead.

 

Patrick, the tournament MVP, grabbed the defensive rebound off the second of two desperation shots by the Diplomats (1-1) in the final nine seconds and made one of two free throws to secure the win for the Knights (2-0).

 

Neumann's D.J. Fritz had 10 points in the championship game while Eli Hitchens had 3 of Neumann's 9 steals on the night.

 

Neumann will sit idle until Sunday, November 25 when they host Elizabethtown College at 3:00 p.m.