COLCHESTER, Vt. – The Assumption University men's basketball team fell to Saint Michael's by a 68-64 score on Tuesday evening.

Saint Michael's (7-13, NE-10 3-10) burst out to an 8-0 lead, which was capped by a 3-pointer off the hands of Jacob Duniver, and quickly extended its advantage to double digits at 13-2 on a CJ Crews trifecta. The Greyhounds, however, clawed back and got a floating jumper from graduate student Matthew Kelly (North Potomac, Md.) to make it 20-15 and prompt a Knights timeout.

Assumption (9-10, NE-10 5-10) stayed hungry and took its first lead at 27-26 when senior Omar El Sheikh (Giza, Egypt) put back his own miss at 4:43. After Assumption briefly held the lead, Saint Michael's came back to tie the score on a Jason Heter layup. Both teams then failed to convert on go-ahead opportunities in the final seconds and headed to the locker rooms deadlocked at 34.

The teams exchanged baskets during the opening minutes of the second half. Neither side led by more than four until Greyhound junior Kani Glover (Brockton, Mass.) drilled a trey to create a 47-42 score with 13:21 left.

The game remained close throughout the second half, as the Greyhounds built up a six-point lead and had it quickly shrink down to one on another 3-pointer by Crews. The Knights went ahead 56-55 on a Duniver layup at 5:47, and a seesaw battle ensued for the remainder of the contest.

Saint Michael's, however, was able to pull through in clutch time by shooting better at the free throw line and getting a huge defensive effort. After missing two pivotal free throws and his team falling behind by six, El Sheikh had his driving layup in the final minute swatted away by Patrick Gardner. Jalen Gorham then made additional free throws to walk away with the victory.

Gardner led Saint Michael's with 17 points and 16 rebounds to go along with three blocked shots, which included a key one down the stretch. Crews contributed 14 points, six boards, and three steals, while Duniver finished with 12 points and eight rebounds.

Glover headlined four Assumption players who netted double figures with 17 points. He also had four steals. Junior Isiah Gaiter (Meriden, Conn.) and Njavan Stewart (Newton Upper Falls, Mass.) each scored 13 apiece, and El Sheikh had another double-double with 12 points and 14 boards.

Assumption returns home to begin a three-game homestand at Laska Gymnasium when it looks to avenge a recent loss to Saint Anselm on Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m.