WORCESTER, Mass. – The Assumption University men's basketball team had a chance to tie the game at the buzzer, but the ball rolled out, as the Greyhounds fell late to Southern Connecticut State University, 66-64 in Northeast-10 Conference action Saturday afternoon.  
 
THE BASICS
Score: Southern Connecticut State University 66, Assumption University 64
Records: Greyhounds (5-9, 1-7 NE10), Owls (11-4, 6-2 NE10)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Assumption started on the front foot, going up 14-9 and forcing a timeout by Southern Connecticut at 13:06 left in the half. Cooper Creek knocked down a pair of three-pointers to build the lead, while the Greyhounds forced some tough misses on the other end. Marty Silvera and Cherif Diarra executed some shots at the baskets to cut the Assumption led to three, forcing the Greyhounds to take a timeout. The Greyhounds started to go cold from the field, allowing the Owls to get back into the game with an 11-2 run and take a two-point lead with 4:29 to go. The offenses cooled off for both sides in the latter portion of the half, with both teams shooting below 38.0 percent from the field. The Owls got off a buzzer-beater by Silvera to take a two-point lead into the break, 28-26.
 
The offensive woes continued into the second half, with the Owls going on a 10-1 run to open the half until Kani Glover forced a foul and got to the free-throw line. The visitors had established an eight-point lead at the 13:16 mark before taking a timeout. At this point, Assumption was only shooting 27.5 percent from the field. Right out of that timeout, a deep three by Glover and a layup by Creek off of an Owl's turnover suddenly gave the Greyhounds some life, cutting the deficit to three. The offense came to life for Assumption, as efforts from Glover and Isiah Gaiter kept a slight lead alive for the Greyhounds with five minutes to go. Creek continued his solid day from the field after drilling a three-pointer with 2:25 to go, tying the game at 58-58. With 8.9 seconds left, Gaiter scored a layup to get the game within one and then fouled to put the Owls back on the line. Southern Connecticut went one of two, allowing Gaiter a chance to tie the game. The senior guard drove at the rim but couldn't connect on the layup, and the Owls squeaked out of Worcester with a 66-64 victory.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Cooper Creek and Kani Glover poured in 17 points apiece, while Isiah Gaiter (15), and Njavan Stewart (12) recorded double-digit points.
• Assumption outrebounded Southern Connecticut 40-34, but the Owls outscored the Greyhounds (26-22) in the paint.
• SCSU connected on 13-of-18 (72.2 percent) from the charity stripe, while Assumption went 10-for-17 (58.8 percent) from the free throw line.

UP NEXT

• AU at Daemen (N.Y.), Monday, January 9, 12:00 pm
• SCSU vs. Saint Michael's, Tuesday, January 10, 3:00 pm

--
For continuing coverage of Assumption University Athletics, visit assumptiongreyhounds.com and follow the Greyhounds on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.