A record-breaking performance helped the Grinnell College men's basketball team to an easy 151-112 win over North Central University of Minnesota Saturday at Darby Gymnasium.
David Arseneault '09 shattered the NCAA record for single-game assists regardless of division (see related story) with 34, breaking the previous mark of 26 established in 1989 by Robert James of NCAA Division III Kean on March 11, 1989. The record in Division II is 25 and the mark in Division I is 22.
He also scored 22 points, while John Grotberg '09 (pictured) erupted for 49 points with the aid of 14 3-pointers. Keith Chamberlain '08 had a huge game, tallying 39 points and grabbing 14 boards. Also in double figures was Bobby Long '09 with 12 points to go along with four steals.
The Pioneers trailed much of the early going, being down 20-14 at one point before rallying for a 27-26 lead on a layup by John Bruns '09. The teams went back and forth after that before Grinnell took the lead for good at 35-34 on Chamberlains' basket with 9:42 left.
The Pioneers used a key six-point run a bit later to turn another one-point lead into a 45-38 cushion. Chamberlain had two free throws and a dunk in the run, while Long also scored. Grinnell all but put the game away when, leading 58-48, used a 12-2 spurt to go up 70-50. Grotberg started things with two straight 3-pointers and P.J. Mahaffey '11 added one a bit later. A trey by Mike Schmidt '08 completed the run.
Grinnell, 7-1 on the season, led 79-54 at halftime and cruised in the second half for the victory over the 2-5 Rams. Arseneault tied the record with 8:34 to go in the game when he assisted a layup by Chamberlain and broke it at the 7:33 mark on a layup by Kale Knisley '11. In the process, Arseneault also shattered his school assists record of 17 that he shared with Jeff Boyle, as well as the Midwest Conference all-time mark.
Grinnell has nearly a month off of competition after the game, with the next action being at Caltech on Jan. 5. The contest is the first of two during a road trip to California.
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