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By Jeffrey Kauffman, February 1, 2007

Last updated: Thursday, February 1, 2007 4:11 AM EST

Kizmahr Grell's runner in the lane at the 2-second mark was the game-winner as Dickinson finally turned the corner and picked up a Centennial Conference men's basketball win over McDaniel College, 77-75 at the Kline Center Wednesday.

Dickinson spread the floor and allowed Grell to dribble-drive to the basket. The Red Terror had the shooters spread out in case the Green Terror collapsed on Grell. Grell, who scored a game-high 26 points, drove to the right side and got a clear look over defender Miquel Jones to bank it in from the right side of the paint. His shot broke the 75-75 tie.

“That was a designed play. Coach called spread and told us to make sure that we got the last shot,” Grell said. “He gave me the option and I certainly trusted my teammates to be there if they closed down the lane.”

“Grell hit a great shot over two guys,” said Green Terror interim head coach Kevin Selby.

McDaniel (5-7 Centennial, 8-10 overall), which hit a school-record 13 treys to keep the game close, took early first-half leads of 7-0 and 20-14 before the Red Devils were able to find the shooting range. Grell's three-point play gave the Devils their first lead at 22-21. They stretched it out to 37-29 as they scored eight straight points in the final 4 minutes. McDaniel rallied and cut the lead to 2 by the half.

“Coach just told us at halftime that we needed to maintain our intensity on both offense and defense and most importantly play and work as a team. It has been a long season, but we are starting to find ourselves and want to finish the season strong,” added Grell. “Hopefully, this win will keep our heads up.”

“Kiz is a very talented kid and he made a heckuva play,” said Dickinson coach Dennis Csensits. “They opted to play him straight up and our shooters were spaced well. It was a big-time finish. The kids could have packed it in when they got behind but they battled back.”

Grell and Mike Geosits combined for 23 points for the Devils in the first half while Tom Leszczynski struggled and tallied only five. He came alive in the second half, scoring 15 points and adding nine rebounds for a total of 20 points and 12 rebounds.

“For the past three games it seems like I have a little lull in the first half and come out strong in the second,” Leszczynski said. “I have to put two of those together.”

Cory Kenny battled back spasms throughout the second half but also added a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Geosits scored 14 to help out the Dickinson cause.

“Cory (Kenny) had a good game,” Csensits said. “He found other ways to help out, even when his shot wasn't there.”

Center Josh McKay was instrumental in the McDaniel rally. The Green Terror fell behind by eight points several different times, but McKay's outside shooting and his size in the paint were keys. He hit a 3-pointer, and he set large, hard screens which allowed his guards to launch NBA-range triples in the comeback. They nailed 13 treys, including 10 in the second half.

The Red Devils (4-9 Centennial, 6-13 overall) grabbed a lead and kept some distance over the Green Terror. They held a 9-point lead at the 4-minute mark.

McDaniel used the long ball to close the gap as the Green Terror traded two points for every two Dickinson scored. They eventually cut the deficit and finally tied the game when McKay drained a 3-pointer with 15 seconds left.

“McKay is not the player we expected to take that shot, but that was a big shot, too,” Csensits said.

“McDaniel is probably one of the most talented and athletic teams in our conference,” added Grell. “They definitely kept us on our toes throughout the game.”

Ryan Finch led the Green Terror with 18 while Ryan Brandenburg added 15. They split nine treys, seven in the final half.

McDaniel basketball coach Bob Flynn passed away of a massive heart attack on Jan. 12. Flynn had guided the team to a 7-6 start, the best start since 1986-87 at the school. The loss Wednesday was their fourth in a row and their fourth this season by four points or less.

“It was a heartbreaker for this team, for what they have been through the past two weeks and play a game like that. This group of kids is the most resilient group I have met and they have been through so much this year,” Selby said.

“You have to feel for the kids on the McDaniel team. You just don't know what to say to them,” said Csensits.

Dickinson travels to Ursinus for a Saturday afternoon contest.

“Six of our top eight are sophomores so we just need to keep pushing,” Csensits said. “We are right there and we want to get a few more wins this year.”