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Posted on Thu, Dec. 29, 2005

Kiwanis Holiday Basketball Classic

Rhyner's career high nets Little Lions win

By Todd Ceisner
tceisner@centredaily.com

STATE COLLEGE -- Mitch Rhyner picked the right night to play the game of his life.

Allowed frequent open looks from the perimeter by a defense designed to stop State College center Eric Meister, Rhyner erupted for 28 points to lead the Little Lions to an impressive 71-36 victory over William Floyd (N.Y.) on Wednesday in the opening round of the Kiwanis Holiday Basketball Classic.

Have we mentioned Rhyner started the game on the bench?

Bothered by injuries for most of his high school playing days, Rhyner offered a glimpse of the potential his coaches have raved about. He made seven of State College's 12 3-pointers and was decisive on his drives to the basket.

"When I don't think about shooting or driving to the hoop, I play a lot better. I make better decisions," said Rhyner, whose previous career-high was 16 points. "It helps a lot to finally play a game like this. I thought I could do it before but this really shows me that I can do it."

Nate Stupar scored 12 points and Kevin Scholly added 10 off the bench for the Little Lions, who will face Hanover (Va.) at 4 p.m. today in the championship game.

State College led 6-3 when Rhyner entered the game at the 5:13 mark of the first quarter after it became apparent the Colonials were not going to let Meister beat them by himself. Rhyner immediately connected on a pair of 3-pointers to fuel an 18-3 State College run to open the game. He finished the first quarter with a strong move to the hoop, giving the Little Lions a commanding 20-5 edge.

"It was nice to see to Mitch do that," said State College coach Drew Frank. "Their defensive game plan just didn't work because of what Mitch did."

Meister, State College's well-known 6-foot-8 senior who's headed to Holy Cross, was held without a field goal and finished with two points, his lowest output since his freshman season. He barely touched the ball on offense as he was constantly surrounded by two Colonial defenders.

"That really opened things up for us big time," Rhyner said.

Said Frank, "When we swung the ball, they had one guy trying to cover two and they just couldn't do it."

Meister did add four rebounds and two blocked shots and Frank had hoped to get Meister more involved but Meister didn't see the need to change anything.

"At one point, I said to him, 'Eric, we're trying to get you touches,'" Frank said. "He said, 'Hey, it's working.'"

Rhyner made three more 3-pointers in the second quarter, including two just before halftime from beyond 22 feet as State College carried a 36-19 lead into the lockerroom.

The Colonials went the first 6:28 of the third quarter without a field goal as the Little Lions opened the second half on a 19-4 run to take a 55-23 lead. State College led by as many as 40 points in the fourth quarter en route to its most lopsided win since beating DuBois by 44 last season. The Little Lions' reserves accounted for 53 of their 71 points.

Upset at his team's performance, William Floyd coach Bob Hodgson, a former Penn State basketball player, was still putting his squad through a strenuous running workout 30 minutes after the game in the auxillary gym.

Hanover (Va.) 74, Oliver 58

Edward Davis scored a game-high 31 points, leading Hanover past Oliver in the other first round game Wednesday.

Davis, a 6-foot-8 sophomore and the son of former NBA player Terry Davis, scored 22 points in the second half for the Hawks.

Nathan Dobler and Chris Cox each added 14 points in the win.

Eric Garland led Oliver with 15 points.

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