The Saint Vincent men's basketball team battled Geneva College in a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) showdown. The Bearcats were able to overcome an early deficit and won 69-68.
 
Saint Vincent improves to 20-4, 13-2 in the PAC, the 10th 20-win season under D.P. Harris. The Golden Tornadoes fall to 8-16, 5-10.
 
Tom Kromka scored the opening basket of the game but Geneva went on a 10-2 run to take the 10-4 lead with 16:09 on the clock. Saint Vincent fell behind 12-5 when both teams did not score for 1:43 until Kromka completed a three-point play to make it a deficit of four.
 
Geneva extended its lead to 10 when the Bearcats went on a 7-0 run to make the game 23-20 with 4:59 left in the first half. Geneva responded with a run of its own and carried the lead into halftime, 36-29.
 
In the second half, Saint Vincent scored the first five points with a Kromka layup bringing the game within two. Geneva extended the lead back to seven.
 
Both teams traded baskets and possessions until Kyle Pope drove the right lane, scored and drew a foul. Pope completed the and-one opportunity and brought the Bearcats the closest they have been since the 19:11 mark in the second.
 
Both teams exchanged free throws and kept it a two-point game, 52-50.  A minute later, Kromka drew a foul and brought the game within one, 54-53.
 
After Geneva made a free throw, David Stephen went to line and tied the game at 55 with 8:32 remaining in regulation.  A 1:26 later, Saint Vincent took its first lead since the firs basket of the game thanks to a Kromka layup.
 
Geneva responded with a layup of its own to regain the lead. After trailing by three, Shemar Bennett cut the lead to one with a spin move and the layup, 60-59 with 5:10 remaining.
 
After swapping makes, Geneva grabbed another three-point lead. The Bearcats battled back and only trailed one as Kromka completed a three-point play with 2:21 remaining in regulation, 66-65.
 
The Golden Tornadoes then regained the three-point advantage until Kromka picked up a loose basketball and converted a layup to make it a 68-67 game with 46.1 seconds remaining.
 
Geneva missed a basket as Bennett corralled the rebound, got the ball in the offensive end. Bennett gained control of the ball, drove the right lane and made a layup with six seconds remaining as he was fouled. Bennett missed the free throw but the Bearcats led by one, 69-68.
Geneva drove the length of the court and got a shot off before the final buzzer but it did not fall and Saint Vincent escaped with the victory.
 
Kromka finished with a game and career-high 32 points with 17 rebounds, his sixth double-double of the season. Bennett added 10 points and seven rebounds.
 
Saint Vincent returns home for its regular season finale against Chatham University. First tip is at 6 p.m.