AMHERST, N.Y. – Playing in their final road test of the regular season, the D'Youville University men's basketball team fell to Daemen University Sunday afternoon by a score of 91-72.
The Saints (7-19, 4-11 ECC) were led by
Noah Hutchins (Buffalo, N.Y.) who secured the double-double, scoring 12 points while grabbing 10 rebounds. DYU had four others score double digits as
Bryson Birdsong (Winter Haven, Fla.) led the team with 15 points with
Nasir Hammonds (Norfolk, Va.) and
Nelson St. Louis (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) each had 14 points.
Renard Fontes-Jules (Brockton, Mass.) rounded out the double-digit scorers with 13 points.
Down 7-2 in the early going after
Luke Theisen (Lake View, N.Y.) scored the game's first bucket, Hutchins cashed in a three-pointer from Birdsong to cut the deficit back to two-points. The teams traded baskets before Daemen extended their lead to 10 after 7-0 run Hammonds halted the run with a jumper by Hammonds in the paint off the assist from
Kevin Thompson (Buffalo, N.Y.).
With over five minutes to go until the break, the Wildcats jumped out to a 15-point lead to make it 28-13. DYU cut the lead back down to 10 after a fastbreak basket from Birdsong. Daemen answered back in the late goings, scoring a basket to make it 39-24 going into halftime.
At the 12:51 mark of the second half, the Wildcats held a 61-36 lead, but the Saints continued to battle back. DYU went on a 19-8 run to claw their way back into the contest. Birdsong and Hutchins played key roles in the run, scoring six points each. Daemen took back the momentum, pushing their lead to 20 to help secure the win.
DYU went 28-for-63 (44.4 percent) from the floor and 9-for-12 (75.0 percent) from the charity stripe. Daemen went 29-for-58 (50.0 percent) from the field and 24-for-30 (80.0 percent) from the free throw line. D'Youville had the advantage on the glass, grabbing 37 rebounds to Daemen's 33.
The Saints will be back in action this Wednesday, February 28th, as they host Roberts Wesleyan University for Senior Night. Tip set for 8 p.m.
