WESTMINSTER, Md. – Johns Hopkins gradually built on a four-point halftime lead, opening up a lead as large as 21 en route to a 70-56 Centennial Conference (CC) men's basketball win over McDaniel on Wednesday.

Tim Stewart (Smyrna, Del./Smyrna) led the Green Terror (14-10, 9-7 CC) with 21 points. With Gettysburg's win over Franklin & Marshall, the winner of Saturday's matchup between McDaniel and Gettysburg will determine who hosts the rematch in Wednesday's first-round game.

George Bugarinovic recorded 25 points and 10 rebounds to pace the 13th-ranked Blue Jays (21-3, 15-2 CC), who secured the top seed and will host next weekend's conference tournament.

Trailing 24-22 on a Stewart three-point play with 7:16 to play, Ryan Curran hit two free throws to even the game and Gene Williams drained a 3-pointer to give the visitors a 27-24 edge with 5:06 showing.

Leading 35-31 at the break, Bugarinovic hit a layup and Curran drained a triple to stretch the lead to nine just 1:52 into the second half.

After Stewart trimmed the deficit to 44-36, Austin Vasiliadis canned a 3-pointer to spark a 21-8 game-clinching run over the next 6:23 for a 65-44 lead with 8:59 to play.

The Blue Jays hit five of their six second-half 3-pointers during the stretch.

After six lead changes and a tie over the first 4:11, Johns Hopkins scored 10 of the game's next 14 points to open up a 20-14 lead before one of three first-half Stewart dunks keyed a 9-2 rally.

Andrew Merlo (Rehoboth, Del./Cape Henlopen) finished with 12 points and three assists.

Game time on Saturday is 3 p.m.

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