PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. - Southern Connecticut men's basketball lost to Pace University, 78-73, in a Northeast 10 Conference game in Pleasantville, N.Y. The win boosts the Owls up to 14-9 overall and 8-7 in the NE10 Conference, while the Setters drop to 16-8 overall and 8-8 in NE10 play.
Zack Penn (New Hartford, Conn.) earned a double-double in the Owls loss to Pace as he posted a team best in points (20) and rebounds (12). Penn also broke his career-high in points which his previous highest was 16 points from Dec. 31, 2022 against American Int'l. Multiple players notched double digits in points including Ulyen Coleman (Brockton, Mass.) who scored 15 points. 10 of his points occurred in the first half and he went 3-for-5 from three point range. Sean James (West Hartford, Conn.) scored 13 points going 3-for-7 from the three point line. Cherif Diarra (Queens, N.Y.) and Kazell Stewart (East Hartford, Conn.) each converted 10 points apiece to round out the five Owls who produced double digits in scoring.
The game was a nail biter from start to finish as the scoreline was kept unbearably close throughout the duration. Off the tip, Zack Penn converted a jumper to start the game for the Owls. The back-and-forth action broke momentarily off of two back-to-back three pointers by Ulyen Coleman and Sean James just four minutes in to make the score 11-6. The Owls continued to convert shots to create a lead of seven points with just under ten minutes remaining, 21-14.
The remaining ten minutes of the first half saw Pace take stride in putting points on the scoreboard. Eleven free throws were converted by the Setters during this time. Simultaneously, the Owls continued to produce. Cherif Diarra and Zack Penn each notched six points in these final 10 minutes of the half. These efforts were not enough to halt Pace from catching up by the halftime buzzer. At the half it was 41-40 with Pace leading.
The second half emanated a similar storyline as the first. The first five minutes of the second half flip-flopped between the Owls and the Setters leading. A layup by Kazell Stewart in the fourth minute of the half created a temporary lead that the Owls strode with for 13 minutes. During this time, Zack Penn converted 10 points and Sean James notched eight.
Pace tied up the score with just under three minutes remaining in the game, 68-68, before taking the lead. Pace converted four free throws during this time to take the lead, but it did not discourage to Southern's ability to respond. With a minute and a half remaining Sean James tabbed a vital three-pointer to keep the Owls in the game which tied up the score once again, 71-71. The Setters answered just 30 seconds later by draining a three-pointer by Brandon Powell followed by a pair of good free throws by Lyron Bennett to give Pace a five point lead. Zack Penn narrowed the score off a layup with ten seconds remaining, but the Owls did not have time to respond once more as Setters' Brandon Powell put in a final two points with seven seconds left. The final buzzer sounded to a score of 78-73 with the Owls falling to Pace.
The Owls are back in action when it travels to Albany, N.Y. to face Saint Rose in an NE10 Conference matchup on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m.
