Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Southern Connecticut State men's basketball team's season came to a close on Tuesday evening with a 75-58 loss to Southern New Hampshire in the NCAA East Region Championship game. Senior Tylon Smith (Manchester, Conn.) led the Owls with a game-high 17 points. Senior Luke Houston (Pearl River, N.Y.) and sophomore Michael Mallory (Waterbury, Conn.) chipped in 13 points apiece, and junior Desmond Williams (Torrington, Conn.) recorded his third double-double in as many games with 10 points and 13 rebounds. Smith (16 ppg) and Williams (15.7 ppg, 12.7 rpg) were both named to the All-Tournament Team for their performances in the regional's three games. Mallory led the team with 18 ppg in the tournament. The three-member senior class of 2015 tied the program record for the most wins by one class in SCSU history with 85 victories over the past four seasons, tying the Class of 2000. The Owls' finish at 24-8, while Southern New Hampshire, the region's No. 2 seed, advances to the Elite Eight with a 24-7 mark.

Houston got the game's scoring started with a three-pointer, followed by a Williams layup to give SCSU an early 5-0 advantage. A three-pointer by Mallory matched the team's largest lead of the game at 12-7 at the 13:20 mark. Back-to-back threes by then Penmen gave them their first lead of the ballgame at 13-12 heading into the under eight media timeout.

After falling behind by as many as three, Mallory drained another from long range to put SCSU up 17-16. Devin Gilligan answered just over one minute later for SNHU, sparking an 11-2 run for the Penmen to give them their largest lead of the opening half at 27-19.

After leaving the game following a scary jump over the scorer's table going after a loose ball, Smith returned to the court and sank a layup. Along with two Houston free throws and a Mallory jumper, SCSU cut the deficit to two, but that was as close as the Owls would get before halftime, trailing 33-29 at the break.

In the second half, the Owls got within one at 13:29 after Smith put in a layup and hit the ensuing free throw to make it 40-39, after the initial offensive charge was overturned to a blocking foul. Smith made it a one point game once again less than a minute later, but that was as close as the Owls would get. The Penmen outscored the SCSU 26-13 over the game's final 10 minutes to lock down the victory.