CRESSON, Pa. -- The 2024-2025 men's basketball season ended for the Mounties this Saturday, Feb 22, with a 86-95 loss to Hilbert College. Forward De'Von Haggans (Harrisburg, PA, Central Dauphin) would lead the Mounties with 22 points and 6 rebounds.

The first half would be an even-paced battle. Exploiting defensive lapses, the Mounties would take a nine point lead with six minutes to go in the first, but Hilbert would even the score behind 8-18 shooting from deep, going in to halftime tied at 45-all.

The second half would go the way of Hilbert from the onset. Despite a dipping three-point percentage, the Hawks would earn extra points from the free throw line, going 12-14 from the stripe as the Mounties struggled against the whistle. The Mounties would rise to the challenge offensively, improving their shooting splits to 53% from the floor and 44% from deep as a team, but earn five fewer shot attempts and six fewer free throw attempts. The separation would come from rebounding, with the hosts grabbing seven fewer boards than the visitors, including six offensive rebounds to extend plays. Although a late three would keep the Mounties in the game, the Hawks would execute down the stretch to take home the 86-95 win. 

The Mounties would honor six graduating seniors for their careers before the game, including Haggans, forward Maurice Hudgins (Hayes, Va., Christchurch School), and guards Will Hagwood (Willowick, Ohio, South), Julius Cummings (Cleveland, Ohio, Villa Angela Saint Joseph), Ronnie McClain (Canton, Ohio, McKinley) and Alphonso Morrow (Baltimore, Md., Parkville).

Playing all four years at the Mount, De'Von Haggans would average 14.8 ppg and 8 rpg on 56.7% shooting for his career. Hitting the 1000 career point mark earlier this season, Haggans finishes his senior year scoring the third highest ppg (18.9) in the AMCC, while averaging the second most rebounds (8.2) and blocks (1.3) per game. 

Also a 1000 point scorer for Mount Aloysius, Will Hagwood would start 73 games for the Mounties across three years, averaging 17.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg, and 3.2 apg for his career. Hagwood would earn earn two consecutive All-Conference third team nominations, and carries the sixth highest ppg (17.4) and fifth highest rpg (7.4) in the AMCC this season. Hagwood's strongest performance came in his sophomore season for the Mounties, posting a ridiculous 51 point, 19 rebound, 4 steal box score against Hilbert.

A strong shooting sixth man, Ronnie McClain would play two years for Mount Aloysius, averaging 6.2 ppg and 2.7 rpg in 18.7 minutes. McClain would post his best numbers against Penn State Altoona this season, going 5-6 from behind the arc en route to a 17 point performance.

Julius Cummings would play two years of his college career for Mount Aloysius, starting 36 games for the Mounties. A talented two-way player, Cummings would average 5.2 points and 3.1 rebounds in 23 minutes per game for his career.

Maurice Hudgins, a two year member of the Mountie basketball program, would work his way into the starting lineup this season, earning 11 starts across 25 games. Hudgins would provide rebounding energy and consistent play, posting a career high stat line of 15 points and 6 rebounds against Bethany College earlier this season. 

Another strong sixth man, Alphonso Morrow would play three seasons for the Mounties, averaging 5.6 points and 2.1 rebounds in 16 minutes per game. Morrow would post his best career stat line in his first year, scoring 21 points on 9/17 shooting against Penn State Du Bois.

The Mounties conclude the 2024-2025 season 7-18 overall and 5-11 in conference play, finishing 7th overall in the AMCC.