PLEASANTVILLE, NY – The Pace University men’s
basketball team lost to Southern New Hampshire University, 67-63,
to drop to 8-7 overall and 5-5 in the Northeast-10
Conference. The loss was the Setters first at home this
season and the fourth consecutive loss to SNHU. The Penmen
improve to 11-4 overall and 7-3 in conference play.
Pace led after the first half, 35-34, as they outshot the
Penmen, 44.4% to 40%. While the Penmen led in most other
categories, including rebounds (20-15) and turnovers (12-13), Pace
knocked down 6-of-13 from 3-point range to give Pace the early
lead. Michael Rossetti (Lake Ronkonkoma, NY/
Centereach) had 12 points in the first half as he went
4-of-6 from the outside. Desmond Quincy-Jones (Rye,
NY/ Rye) was 2-for-2 from long range for six first half
points. For SNHU, P.J. Young (Boston, MA/Manchester Central)
dominated the glass early on, grabbing nine rebounds in the first
frame. P. Jay Bernard (Brockton, MA/ Loomis Chaffee) came off
the bench to score eight points while also recording two assists
and two steals.
SNHU took in the second half, starting with a 12-3 run over the
first six minutes of the second frame. After the Penmen took
a 10-point lead, 48-38 at the 14:09 mark, Pace was able to scrap
their way to a four point deficit, 53-49, at the 8:42 mark.
The two teams would trade free throws down the stretch with SNHU
eventually closing out the game with a 67-63 win.
For Pace, Neal Wellington (Wheaton, MD/ Good
Counsel) finished with a team-high 15 points as well as
five assists and three steals. While Wellington was just
3-of-11 from the floor, he converted 9-of-10 from the charity
stripe. Rossetti would finish with 12 while Quincy-Jones
chipped in with 10 points and five boards. Chaka
Lightburn (Belize City, Belize/ St. John’s College)
had six points and 10 rebounds. The Setters hit on just
6-of-26 from the floor in the second half while also missing all
seven attempts from long range. The Setters were able to hit
on 16-of-19 from the free throw line down the stretch.
For SNHU, Young finished with a double-double, totaling 11 points
and 15 rebounds as well as two blocks. Miguel Gonzalez
(Jamaica, NY/ Holy Cross) dropped in a game-high 22 points while
Sam Carey (Manchester, NH/ Central) had 14 points and two
blocks.
Pace returns to action when they travel to Lowell, MA on Monday,
January 16th for a Northeast-10 Conference matchup
with University of Massachusetts Lowell set for 7:30
p.m.