BRADFORD, Pa. -- The Mount Aloysius men's basketball team suffered a close conference loss this Saturday, Dec 7, to Pitt-Bradford (6-0, 1-0 AMCC). The Mounties would close a 29-point gap across the final ten minutes, but fall 104-105 at the end of regulation. 

The Mounties would open with rapid-fire possessions, attempting to meet the Panthers' run-and-gun style of play with strong interior presence. Despite 41% shooting from deep in the first half, the Mounties would fall into a ten-point hole as their opponents would put up 47 shots in the first twenty minutes, 13 more than the visitors. The Mounties would struggle in the first with turnovers, committing 18 to Bradford's ten for the half. The Mounties would stay in the game with help from guard Will Hagwood (Willowick, Ohio, South)'s offensive output, leading his team with 33 points to go along with 10 rebounds. 

The second half would continue in the manner of the first as the Panthers continued pushing the pace, extending their lead to 29 with ten minutes left to play. Despite the deficit, the Mounties would up the intensity, focusing on ball movement and defensive consistency. The Panthers would begin to miss shots, while the Mounties' hounding defense would force continuous turnovers from the hosts. The Mounties would get a boost from the bench by guard Troy Tinch (Baltimore, Md., Calvert Hall), who would score 11 of his final 18 in the second half to help the Mounties pull within a possession of the opposition. 

Down a point with under a minute to play, the Panthers would force a foul and convert from the line, and a final Mountie three point miss would seal the results, 104-105. The Mounties fall to 1-2 in AMCC play, and 3-5 overall. 

Mount Aloysius men's basketball returns from winter break for the Music City Classic in Nashville, Tn. on Dec 29 and 30, taking on Lynchburg and Berea in the tournament.