Worcester, Mass. (February 6) -- On Wednesday night, the Assumption College men's basketball team dropped an 81-64 final to visiting Southern Connecticut in Northeast-10 Conference action at Laska Gym. The Hounds had defeated the Owls six straight times at Laska Gym prior to tonight's setback as Assumption drops to second place in the league standings.

In the first half, Assumption came out slow and with 11:48 left in the period, the Hounds trailed by a 20-11 margin. The hosts kept up the pressure though and with 6:44 on the clock, graduate student Kevin Donahue (Pawcatuck, Conn./Stonington) knocked down a three-pointer to get the Hounds within 24-22. The Owls ended the half on a 15-9 from that point on though and took a 39-31 lead into the break as the Owls shot 48.3 percent from the field.

Southern Connecticut came out firing in the second period as well and put together an 11-0 run over the opening three minutes as the Owls led by a 50-31 score. The Owls maintained a comfortable lead before a quick 5-0 run by the Hounds pulled Assumption to within 62-49 with just over nine minutes remaining. Southern Connecticut's Trevon Hamlet answered with a three from the top of the key on the next possession though to stretch the edge back to a 16-point margin at 65-49.

Assumption cut the lead down to 12 in the final two minutes before the Owls came away with the 17-point victory.

Donahue led the Hounds with 21 points, along with 15 points from senior Ronson Quick (Marlton, N.J./Cherokee). Four Owls finished in double figures, led by a 21-point showing from Deshawn Murphy.

With the loss, Assumption falls to 15-5 overall and 12-4 in Northeast-10 play, while Southern Connecticut improves to 14-6 overall and 11-5 in the league.

Assumption is back in action on Saturday, February 9th as the Hounds travel to Le Moyne College for a 3 p.m. start in Syracuse, N.Y.

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