THE BASICS:

- Score: Assumption 87, Concordia 81

- Record: Assumption (4-13), Concordia (4-14)

- Location: Worcester, Mass. (Laska Gymnasium)

The Lead: Assumption took the lead for good with eight minutes left in regular and received some clutch scoring from its senior guards Declan Soukup (Melbourne, Australia / Hallam Senior College) and Marcus Murray (Washington, D.C. / John F. Kennedy) to come away with an 87-81 non-conference victory against Concordia on Tuesday evening.  

HOW IT HAPPENED:

- Assumption jumped out to a 9-4 lead on a triple from Branislav Vujadinovic (Belgrade, Serbia / St. Joseph) at 17:42, however, Concordia came back to take a 12-11 lead less than three minutes later. The Hounds took back the lead and lead and stretched it to 20-14.

- The Clippers responded with a 14-6 run to grab a 28-26 advantage at 8:44, but Assumption countered to regain the lead four minutes later, 38-37. Concordia scored eight straight to pull in front once again and eventually took a 49-44 lead going into the half.

- Karl Ziegler (Annandale, Va. / Annandale) opened the second with a jumper and the Hounds eventually took back the lead, 58-56, on consecutive baskets by Justin Tuckson (Stafford, Va. / Christ Chapel Academy) at 15:18. The team's traded baskets over the next nine minutes, before Tuckson and Murray made it a 75-70 contest. A 6-2 run eventually extended the lead to 80-74 on a Soukup layup at 2:55.

- Leading 80-77, Soukup connected a three from the wing to extend the lead to six points with just under 2:10 left. The Clippers responded with four straight points to close the deficit to just 83-81 with 1:13 on the clock. Murray slithered into the paint for a layup to extend the lead back to four with 49 seconds left and the Hounds got a stop on the defensive end. Murray was then fouled and hit both free throws for the 87-81 final margin.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

- Assumption shot 51.5 percent from the floor and 36.4 percent from beyond the arc while Concordia made 41.4 percent of its attempts and connected on just 4 of 17 three-point field goals.

- The Clippers owned a 49-29 rebounding advantage, but the Hounds committed nine fewer turnovers (20-11) and had 17 more points from its bench (29-12).

- Murray posted 20 points and a career-high 12 assists with two steals and only two turnovers, while Ziegler put up 23 points, three rebounds and two assists.

- Tuckson came off the bench to supply 16 points on 6-for-8 shooting while Soukup chipped in ten points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals. Nick Pasquale (Shrewsbury, Mass. / Worcester Academy) added eight points and four rebounds.

UP NEXT:

- Assumption returns to action on Saturday when the team travels to face Pace at 3:30 pm.

STAY CONNECTED:

- For the latest on Assumption College Athletics, follow the Hounds via social media on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.