Boxscore

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Senior forward Ktrice McNeill (Bronx, N.Y.) recorded a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds, but the Southern Connecticut State University men's basketball team was outlasted by the No. 19 Saint Michael's College Purple Knights by a score of 85-79. The Owls fell to 1-4 overall and 1-3 in the Northeast-10 Conference, while the Purple Knights improved to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in conference play.

McNeill's team high 22 points came on a 10-for-13 shooting day. His 11 rebound total, which included 6 on the offensive glass, was the overall game high. Junior guard Justin Gardenhire (Rosedale, N.Y.) and junior forward Preston Bell (Brooklyn, N.Y.) also netted double figures with 15 and 11 points respectively. Gardenhire also led the Owls in assists with four.

The Owls led the Purple Knights at the intermission by a score of 45-44, driven by 11 points from Bell and 10 from McNeill. The opening frame included ten ties and ten lead changes. Saint Michael's kept itself in the game off of a 7-for-11 shooting performance from behind the three-point line. Ryan Rodrigues and James Sorrentine his three and two triples respectively without missing the opening half.

After a tie score and two more lead changes, Saint Michael's took a 62-61 lead with 12:04 remaining. The Purple Knights went up by as many as 10 and did not relinquish their lead until a McNeill layup knotted the score at 79 with 1:26 remaining. Jon Zylstra converted two free throws with 1:12 to give the Purple Knights the lead for good, and the Owls would not score again as Saint Michael's won the game 85-79, converting four additional free throws in as many attempts in the closing seconds.

Junior Devon Moffatt (Clifton, N.J.), playing in only his second game for the Owls, scored eight points in 18 minutes off the bench, while also contributing three assists and two steals. Sophomore Terron Jones (Bridgeport, Conn.) scored seven points and pulled down a career high five rebounds in a career high 21 minutes.

Saint Michael's forward Brian Monahan led all scorers with 26 points, leading four Pruple Knights scoring in double figures. The Owls are back in action on Thursday, December 6, as they continue to worth their way through the Northeast-10. The team heads Lowell, Mass. to challenge the River Hawks from Massachusetts-Lowell. The action tips off from Costello Gymnasium at 7:30 p.m.