THE BASICS

-Score: Assumption University 87, Saint Michael's College 76 

-Records: Assumption University (5-2, 2-2 NE10), Saint Michael's College (3-4, 0-3 NE10)

-Location: Worcester, Mass. (Laska Gymnasium)

-The Lead: The Assumption University men's basketball team continued their 2021-22 season on Saturday afternoon with a Northeast 10 conference matchup against Saint Michael's College. The Purple Knights were hot from beyond the arc draining eight three's in the first half to give the visitors a 46-34 lead at halftime. The Hounds rallied back in the second half thanks to a big run at the start and another run with five minutes to go to secure the victory for the Hounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED

-Saint Mikes came out of the gate hot, hitting three three pointers on their first three shots to give the visitors a 9-4 lead over the first four minutes of the game.

-The Hounds went on a 14-5 run to get within one but Saint Mike's went on a 12-4 run to stretch it to a 31-21 lead and then a 10-2 run to go up 41-27 with four minutes left and took a 12 point lead into halftime. 

-The Hounds came out of the locker room energized and went on a 17-2 run with Matthew Kelly (North Potomac, Md. / Quince Orchard) dropping eight points in the first five minutes and hitting a three to give the Hounds their first lead of the game seven minutes into the half.

-The teams would trade the lead multiple times over the next few minutes with Assumption pulling away with five minutes left thanks to junior guard Isaiah Gaiter (Meriden, Conn. / Huntington Prep) hitting three straight jumpers. 

-Cal Connelly's (Rochester, N.H. / Tilton) three pointer with just under four minutes left stretched the Hounds lead to double digits and the hosts didn't look back from there. 

-Gaiter's layup with 24 seconds left gave Assumption their largest lead of the day to secure the 87-76 victory for the Hounds. 

-Gaiter led Assumption with 22 points while Kelly had 17 points and 5 assists and Omar El Sheikh (Giza, EG. / The Knox School) racked up another double double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Njavan Stewart (Newton Upper Falls, Mass. / Newton South) had 15 points off the bench for the Hounds. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

-Assumption outrebounded Saint Mike's 40-32.

-The Hounds went 36-78 (46.2%) shooting on the day while Saint Mike's was 26-56 (46.4%)

UP NEXT  

-The Hounds are back in action on Friday, December 10 with a Northeast 10 conference matchup at American International College. 

STAY CONNECTED

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