Cresson, Pa. -- Clean ball movement and active defense netted Mount Aloysius men's basketball the 86-77 victory over AMCC opponent La Roche University this Wednesday, November 29th. 

Juniors De'Von Haggans (Harrisburg, PA, Central Dauphin) and Will Hagwood (Willowick, Oh., South) led the Mounties in scoring with 23 and 19 respectively, while sophomore guard Trent Ramirez-Keller (Gettysburg, Pa., Gettysburg) earned a season-high 18 points while preserving Mountie momentum in crucial moments with three threes. Senior forward Reggie Priah (Cleveland, Ohio, Euclid) led the hosts in assists with nine, rounding out a team offensive performance which saw its highest field goal efficiency and lowest turnover count of the year so far. 

The first half was a back and forth affair, with both teams struggling to hit from three. Mount Aloysius would go just 1-8 from deep, while the Redhawks would respond in kind with a 4-14 performance from behind the arc. Despite this, the Mounties were able to find success inside, scoring on 63% on shots inside the paint. Neither team opted for much post play; quick drives, kick outs, and rebounding scrums dictated the tempo of both programs. 

Although broken up by a higher than normal foul rate, the second half saw both teams play strong team ball, with shooting percentages rising as the Mounties and the Redhawks settled into their offenses. Early three pointers would push La Roche up nine with 11 minutes left to play in the game, before Mount Aloysius would put together one of their most impressive stretches of the year, going 5-6 from the field as a team in three minutes to recapture the lead. Ramirez-Keller capped the run with an electrifying three, forcing La Roche to take a timeout as the crowd erupted. 

La Roche clawed back, tying the game as the Mounties struggled to defend without fouling. A converted and-one from Hagwood and a Priah floater gave the Mounties a five point lead, but La Roche immediately converted an and-one in response to cut the lead to two. Ramirez-Keller would again steal back Mountie momentum with another three. Going into the final two minutes with a five point lead, Mount Aloysius maintained a lead with makes at the line, finding a handful of fast break opportunities while keeping steady ball control. The last minute saw senior guard Julius Cummings (Cleveland, Ohio, Villa Angela Saint Joseph) put away the game with back to back plays, pushing forward in transition and converting the Priah assist to push the Mountie lead to nine, before immediately pouncing on a fifty-fifty ball to give the Mounties back possession again. Despite some struggles with free throw shooting early, the Mounties earned their points down the stretch, ending the game in a 86-77 victory for the hosts. 

Mount Aloysius men's basketball hosts Pitt-Bradford this Saturday, December 2nd at 4:00pm. Pitt-Bradford enters the contest 4-2 on the season, coming off a 99-70 win over Wells College.