Box Score
Steubenville, OH - The Mount Aloysius basketball team clinched a conference playoff spot with a 69-59 victory over host Franciscan University on Wednesday evening.

The Mounties led 22-18 after a defensive first half in which neither team led by more than five points. In the second half of action, the Mounties led 24-20 before embarking on a 14-4 run to lead 38-24 after Tommy Pisula hit a layup with 12:41 to go in the ballgame. Mount Aloysius led 46-31 after Trent McErlane scored with 8:21 remaining. The Barons cut the deficit to as close as eight points in the closing moments, but it wasn't enough as the Mounties were nearly perfect from the free throw line in the final stretch to secure the conference playoff spot with the win.

Julian Stover shot 9-for-9 at the free throw line to finish with 16 points in a balanced Mountie attack. Josiah Jones and McErlane each scored 14 points, while Shaire Tolson-Ford notched 13 points and Pisula finished in double figures with 10 points. Jones secured six rebounds and Pisula added three assists and three steals.

The playoff berth under first-year Head Coach Will Cabrera is the first for the Mounties since the 2012-2013 season. 

The Mounties improve to 6-11 in conference play with the win and have secured the #6 and final spot for the conference playoffs which will begin next week. The Mounties will conclude their regular season on Saturday at 1 p.m. at home against Hilbert College.