BUFFALO, N.Y. – Back at the College Center Saturday afternoon, the D'Youville University men's basketball team fell to East Stroudsburg University by a score of 88-70.
 
The Saints (1-4) were led by Noah Hutchins (Buffalo, N.Y.) with 23 points off the bench while Trayton Trice (Romeoville, Ill.) added 12 points and seven rebounds (3 offense, 4 defense). Kevin Thompson (Buffalo, N.Y.) and Luke Theisen (Lake View, N.Y.) each added nine points in the effort.
 
DYU started the game in a fast pace, jumping out to a 16-7 lead after the first four minutes of action. The quick start was paced by Theisen with five points and Thompson with four points. Trice capped off the offense spurt with a three-pointer off the feed from Renard Fontes-Jules (Brockton, Mass.).
 
D'Youville saw their first 10-point lead of the first half come with just over 10 minutes until the break with Nasir Hammonds (Norfolk, Va.) making the backend of his two shots at the free throw line to make it 25-15. The Warriors, who are currently No. 16 in the latest D2CSC poll, battled back, making it a three-point game just minutes later.
 
The Saints were able to regain the momentum as they jumped back out to another 10-point lead as Thompson knocked down a three-pointer off the dish from Hutchins to make it 34-24 with 5:29 left until halftime. ESU continued to battle back, making it a one-point game as DYU took a 38-37 lead into the break.
 
Carrying their momentum into the second half, the Warriors got out to a 49-42 lead with a three-pointer by Jaelen McGlone. DYU answered with five unanswered to make it 49-47 with baskets from Fontes-Jules and a three by Hutchins.
 
The Saints were able to keep it a two-possession game late into the half, but the Warriors started to create separation with 6:43 left in regulation, up 66-59. DYU kept it under a 10-point deficit until an and-one by Tyshawn Trail made it an 11-point game and the Saints could not recover.
 
DYU went 24-for-55 (43.6 percent) from the field and 7-for-23 (30.4 percent) from beyond the arc. ESU went 28-for-59 (47.5 percent) from the floor and 5-for-17 (29.4 percent) from three.
 
The Warriors held the edge on the glass, grabbing 37 rebounds to the Saints' 34 boards. ESU also held the advantage in the paint, scoring 42 points to DYU's 34 points.
 
The Saints will be back in action this Wednesday, November 29th, as they open conference action at Roberts Wesleyan University for an 8 p.m. tip.