The Saint Vincent College men's basketball team cut a double-digit deficit to single digits late in the second half but could not capitalize as the Grove City Wolverines held on for the 70-69 win in the PAC Tournament semifinals.
 
Out of halftime, the hosts held a 34-27 edge and came out of the locker room looking to expand it. Grove City slowly worked its lead to double digits despite the Bearcats trying to keep the difference under 10 points. Ben Rose made a layup for the Wolverines at the 7:59 mark in the second half to give his team a 57-40 lead.
 
Cletus Helton shot some life into SVC after making two free throws and a three pointer to pull the visitors within 12 (57-45). After GCC made a layup, Helton made two more free throws followed by a basket in the paint from Drew Normandin.
 
David Stephen capped off what turned into a 13-2 run by Saint Vincent with consecutive makes to make the score 59-53 with 2:23 to go in regulation. After a Wolverine free throw, Stephen brought the Bearcats within five after a couple of free throws. The fouls started to come for SVC as it tried to draw out the clock as much as possible.
 
Both teams took several trips to the line in the final minute and then a three from Helton made the score 67-63 Grove City with 20 seconds to go. The hosts made two free throws before Stephen hit a three to make it a three-point game (69-66).
 
However, Saint Vincent had to foul again to get the ball back, but the Wolverines made a free throw to take a 70-66 lead. Helton hit a three as time expired, but the Bearcats fell by the single-point margin.
 
In the first half, both teams went began the game exchanging makes until an 11-0 run by Grove City gave it a 17-8 lead at the 12:54 mark. As the half progressed, the Wolverines held the lead until SVC hit a three and a couple free throws to pull within three (24-21).
 
Grove City increased its lead back to eight points before field goals were made by Andrew Reed and Normandin to set the score at 31-27 with 1:22 to go in the first half. With 41 seconds to go, Grove City's Joe Meola completed an old fashion three-point play to give his team the 34-27 edge at the midway point.
 
Helton led Saint Vincent with 20 points while Stephen and Normandin finished the night with 18 and 17, respectively. Despite out rebounding Grove City 46-44, the Bearcats made 14-25 (56%) free throws compared to 17-28 (60.7%) for the Wolverines.
 
Saint Vincent concludes the season with a 13-14 record while going 7-9 in the Presidents' Athletic Conference.