WOOSTER, Ohio - Mount Union's men's basketball team was defeated by St. Vincent (Pa.) 71-65 in the Al Van Wie/Rotary Classic on Sunday.

The Purple Raiders (1-2 overall) were led by junior guard Cody Dillon (Newton Falls/Newton Falls) with 17 points. Sophomore guard DeAllen Jackson (Akron/Archbishop Hoban) was also in double with 15 points.

The Bearcats (2-3 overall) were led by Jaylon Bell with 15 points off the bench.

Senior guard Nate Jacubec (Struthers/Struthers) hit a three-pointer with 10:53 in the first half before St. Vincent went on a 16-4 run to take a double digit lead at 31-21 with 4:44 before halftime. The two teams traded baskets the rest of the half and Mount Union trailed 38-27 going into the lockerroom. 

In the second half the Bearcats took a 13 point lead, 47-34, with 13:53 left in the game before Mount Union made their charge. The Raiders scored the next 10 points to cut the lead to three at 47-44 with under 10 minutes to play.

St. Vincent responded to Mount Union's run with a 13-2 run of their own to take its biggest lead of the game, 14 points at 60-46, with 5:37 left in the second half.

The Raiders went on another 10-0 run, including a pair of threes from Dillon, to bring the lead back to four points at 60-56 with 2:30 to go in the game.

Mount Union got three-pointers from Dillon and Stevie Griffin (Canton/Massillon Jackson) but St. Vincent went 7-of-8 from the free throw line in the final minutes to close out the game. 

The men's basketball team starts their Ohio Athletic Conference schedule on Tuesday, December 2 on the road against Baldwin Wallace.