WORCESTER, Mass. – Junior Isiah Gaiter (Meriden, Conn.) headlined four players who netted double figures and scored the eventual game-winning basket as the Assumption University men's basketball team downed Saint Anselm, 81-78, on Thursday evening at Laska Gymnasium.

Assumption appeared to be comfortably ahead when sophomore Njavan Stewart (Newton Upper Falls, Mass.) drilled a 3-pointer from the left arc to create a 73-60 score with 3:58 remaining in regulation, but the Hawks stormed back and made things interesting down the stretch. Miles Tention made back-to-back shots from downtown to keep the Hawks alive, and a fastbreak layup by Tyler Arbuckle following a steal in the backcourt by Chris Paul slashed the deficit all the way down to one at 78-77 with 24 seconds left.

However, the Greyhounds never surrendered the lead. Gaiter drove in for a layup in transition to make it 80-77 with 15.8 seconds left, and after both teams each made and missed a free throw in the waning seconds, a game-tying 3-point attempt by Tention with graduate student Matt Kelly (North Potomac, Md.) closely covering him hit off the rim as time expired.

The game featured seven ties and three lead changes. A 3-pointer by sophomore Connor Creek (Merredin, Australia) gave the Greyhounds their first lead at 11-10, starting a seesaw battle in the middle of the frame culminated with Jordan White putting back his own miss to break a 19-19 tie and put the hosts ahead for good.

Assumption, which led 40-34 at halftime, jumped ahead by twin figures when White stole the ball away from Paul and converted on the end to create a 50-39 score with 13:29 left. The Hawks came all the way back and tied it at 54s courtesy of an Arbuckle layup, but they could never get over the hump. Kelly drained back-to-back shots from downtown on the next two Greyhound possessions, and the hosts stayed ahead for the remainder of the contest.

Gaiter scored 19 points by shooting 6-of-11 from the floor and 7-of-8 at the line to lead the way for Assumption. He also grabbed eight rebounds and dished out two assists. Kelly added 15 points, and junior Kani Glover (Brockton, Mass.) scored 11 points and also had four steals and two blocks. White contributed 10 points off the bench.

Tention played the entire game and netted 27 points for Saint Anselm (13-7, NE-10 9-6). He made seven of his nine field goals from beyond the arc. Paul fell just shy of a double-double with 18 points and eight rebounds, while Arbuckle contributed 15 points and three assists.

Assumption (10-10, NE-10 6-10) continues a three-game homestand when it hosts Stonehill on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.