Cresson, PA - On the road for the second straight conference game, the D'Youville Spartans continued their slide as they lost to the host Mount Aloysius Mounties by the final score of 76-70 Saturday afternoon.

The Mounties jumped out to an early 12-4 lead slightly over 6 minutes into the first half. After the offense began to pickup, D'Youville brought the game within 4 points after a Marcus Clarke (Olean, NY/Archbishop Walsh Academy) made layup. Five minutes later, Jon Gemerek (Cheektowaga, NY/Depew) brought the game to within 1 point after a made layup and free throw. With 2:27 left in the first half, Anthony Malone (Erie, PA/Mercyhurst Prep) tied the game at 29-29 on a three-pointer. Heading into the half, Mount Aloysius was up 34-31.

To start off the second half, Matt Insley (Wellsville, NY/Wellsville) hit a three-pointer to tie the game. Less than a minute later, Julian Reed (Cheektowaga, NY/Union-Endicott) gave the Spartans their first lead of the game after a made layup. In the next 8 minutes, the two teams would trade leads 7 times. After a Reed made dunk and Zach Blask (Portville, NY/Portville) made jumper, D'Youville opened up a 3 point lead.

After taking a 3 point lead off an Steve Kunelius (Oswego, NY/Oswego) that gave the Spartans a 59-56 lead with 7:08 remaining, the host Mounties stepped up their offensive and defensive games to take the lead and never look back. Outscoring D'Youville 12-11 in the final five minutes after holding a 64-59 lead, Mount Aloysius took that lead to the final whistle, winning the game 76-70.

"The second half went back and forth and Aloysius, to their credit, played well enough at the end and cashed in their opportunities to win," said fourth year Head Coach Earl Schunk.

Julian Reed led the way on offense for the Spartans, scoring a team high 15 points. Recording 11 rebounds, Reed tallied his third straight double-double. Reed also added another 3 blocks to his team lead. 

The Spartans had four players in double figures. Marcus Clarke, Steve Kunelius and Jon Gemerek each scored 11 points. Clarke and Gemerek also had 3 assists each. Adam Ibrahim (New Port Richey, FL/Ridgewood) and Bayani Salinas (Anitcoch, CA/Antioch) both earned their first starts of the season, with Salinas scoring 5 points and grabbing 5 rebounds.

As a team, D'Youville shot 9-21 (42.9%) from the line, and Coach Schunk acknowledged that as a major of the weakness in the game.

"We played well on defense but our free throw shooting cost us a chance at a substantial lead at halftime," said Schunk.

The Spartans will have a chance to redeem themselves rather quickly, traveling to Franciscan to play at 3pm on Sunday.