CALDWELL, N.J. – Headed east for their first contest of the season, the D'Youville University men's basketball team fell to Dominican University by a score of 116-81 on day one of the Caldwell University Conference Challenge.
 
The Saints (0-1) had four players in double-digit scoring with Bryson Birdsong (Winter Haven, Fla.) leading the way with 17 points off the bench while Nasir Hammonds (Norfolk, Va.) had 11 points. Luke Theisen (Lake View, N.Y.) and Chase Jenkins (Titusville, Fla.) each chipped in with 10 points. Hammonds also led the way on the glass, grabbing eight rebounds (6 offense, 2 defense).
 
The Chargers jumped out to a 25-3 lead in the first seven minutes of action, but Dawson Matsell (Hamilton, Ontario) was able to settle DYU in, scoring the layup and coming back again with a three-pointer off the dish from Theisen.
 
Dominican would try to create more with DYU, but they would not go away easily. IN the final two minutes before the break, the Saints went on a 7-0 run to make it 48-34 in favor of the Chargers. Trayton Trice (Romeoville, Ill.) led the way with three points during the stretch as he converted his and-one opportunity.
 
D'Youville came out and traded blows with Dominican, trying to keep the deficit at a manageable margin. The Chargers would find their lead grow to as many as 41 in the final minutes of the game before Hammond and Birdsong hit back-to-back three-pointers to close out the game.
 
The Chargers held the advantage in the paint, outscoring D'Youville 56-26. Both teams were fairly even on second chance opportunity with Dominican holding the slight edge, 26-23.
 
The Saints will be back at it tomorrow afternoon as they play Caldwell University at 1 p.m.