WORCESTER, Mass.— No. 24 nationally ranked Assumption University Men's Basketball played a thrilling game against Southern New Hampshire University at home. The back-and-forth conference matchup featured twelve lead changes; in the end, the Penmen came away late with a 69-66 final to hand the Greyhounds their first loss in Northeast-10 Conference action.
 
THE BASICS
Score: Southern New Hampshire University 69, Assumption University 66
Records: Greyhounds (11-3, 6-1 NE10) | Penmen (9-4, 5-2 NE10)

HOW IT HAPPENED: 
An even game from the opening tip, two respected conference teams finally getting the chance to square off. The well-balanced Assumption offense was on full display, but Ray Daniels of the Penmen was proving problematic to stop. While the Hounds were outshot beyond the arc in the opening half 6-1 by Southern NH, they played a gritty half and scored 26 of their 32 points in the paint. Assumption grabbed the lead following a seven-point run, but SNHU sunk a game-tying three-pointer to send the game knotted going into halftime.
 
A strong opening gave the Greyhounds their largest lead of the night, 51-46, after Kyle Hicks drove the hoop for a layup. With 1:34 left in the game, Assumption was up 64-61. Daniels capped off his 18-point performance for the Penmen by draining a three-pointer to tie the game at 1:18 and put the visitors up by five with a layup at 18 seconds remaining. The Hounds made it a single-possession game but couldn't surmount the late surge from Daniels and the Penmen.


INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Assumption had three players tied with a team-high ten points, Kyle Hicks, Tayeshawn Cunningham-Pemberton, and Daouda Dembele.
• SNHU had a slight edge in the battle of the boards (35-33), but the Greyhounds outscored the visitors 32-26 in the paint. 
• Njavan Stewart stuffed the stat sheet with nine points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks. 
• Southern New Hampshire outshot Assumption beyond the arc 43.5 percent (10-of-23) to 27 percent (6-of-22).
• The Penmen lead the all-time series 31-13.

 
UP NEXT:

• Assumption vs. Bentley, Saturday, January 11, 3:30 pm
• Southern New Hampshire at Adelphi, Saturday, January 11, 3:30 pm. 

 
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