ALLIANCE, Ohio – Mount Union's men's basketball team, ranked No. 11 in the nation lost to Stevens 84-74 in the First Round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament on Friday night.
The Purple Raiders (23-5) had four players score in double figures, with senior
Darrell Newsom (Twinsburg) connecting on all six of his three-pointers scoring 22 points on the night.
Sophomore
Christian Parker (Canton / GlenOak) scored 14 points, junior
Chris Painter Jr. (Akron / St. Vincent-St. Mary) and senior
Ethan Stanislawski (Massillon / Massillon Jackson) scored 11 and 10 respectively.
The Ducks (17-8) were led by Matt LaCorte who scored 31 points.
Stevens jumped out quickly with a 10-0 run to start the game. Mount Union responded with a 10-2 run to close within 2 just six minutes into the first half. The Raiders took their first lead on a Newsom three with 11:33 remaining in the first half.
Mount Union got its largest lead in the half on a jumper from Painter to take a six point lead. Stevens responded with an 18-9 run to take a 38-35 lead. Mount Union finished out the half on a 6-0 run to take a 41-38 lead into the break.
The second half the Raiders got its largest lead 58-50 on a jumper from senior
Logan Hill (Massillon / Massillon Jackson). Stevens responded with a 25-9 run to take a 75-67 lead with 3:29. Mount Union got within five just once in the final 3 minutes as Stevens connected on nine free throws over the final 2:19.
Mount Union finishes the season with a overall record of 23-5 and finished second overall in the Ohio Athletic Conference.
