THE BASICS:

- Score: Southern Connecticut State 67, Assumption 60

- Record:  Southern Connecticut State (14-6, 10-3 NE10), Assumption (5-14, 4-9 NE10)

- Location: Worcester, Mass. (Laska Gymnasium)

The Lead: Assumption grabbed a slim one-point lead early in the second half and kept it close throughout, but the winningest team in the NE10 Southwest took back the lead and never trailed again, as Southern Connecticut State escaped Laska Gymnasium with a 67-61 win on Tuesday evening.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

- Assumption trailed 12-10 five minutes into the contest, before a Justin Tuckson (Stafford, Va. / Christ Chapel Academy) trey gave the Hounds a one-point lead. Following a SCSU basket, Assumption responded with three consecutive triples to grab a 22-14 advantage at 10:22.

- Less than two minutes later, Austin Kearney (Monroeville, N.J. / Gloucester County Christian) connected on a shot from downtown for a 27-17 lead with 8:50 left. The Owls countered with 12 straight points to pull in front 29-27, though Patrick Fleming (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. / Iona Prep) tied it up at 5:20. The teams traded baskets over the final five minutes and the Hounds went into the break down 35-33.

- SCSU scored the opening four points of the half, before Assumption went on a 12-6 run to even the game up at 45 apiece with 14:52 remaining. Tuckson gave the Hounds a 48-47 lead one minute later on a layup, however, an Owl 7-3 run provided a 54-51 advantage.

- Six straight points extended the SCSU advantage to 60-51 and the visitors eventually led 64-55 with 5:20 left in regulation. The Hound defense locked down and a triple from Vujadinovic trimmed the deficit to just 64-60 at 2:22. Assumption failed to get any closer on its next two possessions and were forced to foul as the Owls escaped with a 67-60 victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

- Assumption shot 42.3 percent from the floor while making 9 of 20 three-point attempts. Southern Connecticut, meanwhile shot 46.3 percent and was 6 of 15 from downtown.

- The Hounds were outrebounded 38-29 and committed 20 turnovers, but received 33 points from its bench, compared to just six for the Owls.

- Tuckson scored a career-high 21 points with four triples and three assists to lead the offense. Fleming added seven points and three steals while Branislav Vujadinovic (Belgrade, Serbia / St. Joseph) chipped in 11 points and three rebounds.

- Michael Mallory led SCSU with 19 points, seven assists and four rebounds while Jerry Luckett Jr. had 18 points, seven rebounds and two steals.

UP NEXT:

- Assumption returns to action on Saturday when the team hosts Adelphi at 3:00 pm.

STAY CONNECTED:

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