Beaver Falls, PA - It was senior night at Metheny Fieldhouse on Saturday night in more ways than one. Geneva′s senior trio of David Phillips, Lambros Svingos and Drew Santarsiero were honored prior to Geneva′s regular season finale against Westminster. Once the ball was tipped, it was that trio that helped Geneva to a 100-85 victory over Westminster to put an end to its five-game losing streak. The Golden Tornadoes finished the regular season with an overall record of 6-19, including a conference mark of 4-12.
Geneva′s seniors have been frustrated throughout most of the season but each of them took out those frustrations against Westminster on the last day of the regular season. Geneva shot 64% from the field in the first half and took a 42-36 lead into the break. The Golden Tornadoes quickly extended their lead into double digits and after the 14 minute mark Westminster was never able to pull back within ten points. Leading 60-52, the Golden Tornadoes scored 13 of the next 15 points to take a 19 point lead. The 13-2 run was highlighted by Phillips′ nine points and four more by Svingos.
Geneva′s senior trio accounted for 72 of the 100 points. Phillips led the way with 31 points while Svingos added 26 and Santarsiero 17 points. The seniors connected on combined 27-36 (75%) from the field. The Golden Tornadoes got an 18 points contribution from junior Matt Lorello as the only other Geneva player with double figures on the night.
"Obviously an emotional night," said head coach Jeff Santarsiero. "Senior night is always a difficult time but when you throw in the fact that one of them is my son, it was a difficult night. I am just so proud of those guys for stepping up in a big way in a game we really needed to win."
Geneva did need to get a win on Saturday night to avoid having to play on Monday night in a PAC tournament play-in game. With Washington & Jefferson winning earlier in the day, the Golden Tornadoes would have been forced to host Waynesburg in a play-in game on Monday had they lost the finale. With the victory, Geneva avoids having to play Monday night and will open it′s first-ever PAC tournament in Kentucky on Tuesday night against Thomas More. Geneva finished the season as the sixth seed in the conference and will face the third seeded Saints in a quarter-final match-up. The PAC semi-finals are slated for next Saturday with the finals taking place at the highest remaining seed on February 28th. "It′s been a long year for all of us," said head coach Jeff Santarsiero. "We put ourselves in a better position by winning tonight and now everyone is in the same boat. If we play like we did tonight, we can beat any team in the conference."
Geneva College is a comprehensive Christian college of the arts, sciences and professional studies. Founded in the tradition of the Reformed Christian faith, Geneva prepares students to serve Christ in all areas of society: work, family and the church. Geneva College′s philosophy of education is based on the Foundational Concepts of Christian Higher Education.
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