ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Opening up East Coast Conference play, the D'Youville University men's basketball team fell in a nail biter to Roberts Wesleyan University Wednesday evening by a score of 77-74.
 
The Saints (1-5, 0-1 ECC) had three players score in double-digits with Luke Theisen (Lake View, N.Y.) leading the way with 14 points while Renard Fontes-Jules (Brockton, Mass.) and Bryson Birdsong (Winter Haven, Fla.) each added 13 and 11 points, respectively. Theisen was one rebound away from a double-double, grabbing nine boards with Fontes-Jules and Chase Jenkins (Titusville, Fla.) each grabbing six boards.
 
With the Redhawks leading by two possessions 10 minutes into the game, they pushed it to a three-possession game with Isaiah Elmore hitting the frontend of a pair of free throws to make it 19-12. DYU was able to answer, knocking down a three-pointer off the dish from Fontes-Jules. RWU quickly took the momentum back, going on an 8-0 run. The Saints answered the run with an 8-0 run, fueled behind an and-one by Noah Hutchins (Buffalo, N.Y.) and a three-pointer by Theisen to make it 27-23.
 
DYU was able to keep the deficit within four points as Fontes-Jules made a layup to trail 33-31 going into the break.
 
Roberts Wesleyan started out the second half with a 15-6 run, making it a 48-37 game with 15:53 to go in regulation. Birdsong got the Saints back on the track, scoring five of the games next seven points with a pair of free throws and knocking down a three off the feed from Hutchins to cut in the Redhawks' lead.
 
Trailing 53-42 with 13:51 left in regulation, the Saints kept fighting as they scored eight unanswered points. Kevin Thompson (Buffalo, N.Y) got the spark started, converting an and-one opportunity followed by baskets from Nasir Hammonds (Norfolk, Va.), Theisen, and Jenkins to make it 53-51.
 
Making it a one-point deficit on several occasions, D'Youville was able to take the lead with just over eight minutes to play as Fontes-Jules found Theisen for a three-pointer to take the 59-57 lead.
 
The teams traded baskets over the next seven minutes of play, including Birdsong and Ryan Garwood trading three-pointers to make it 74-74 with 2:03 left in the game. The Redhawks knocked down three of their next four free throws to help get the win.
 
The Saints went 27-for-72 (37.5 percent) from the field and a solid 13-for-16 (81.3 percent) from the free throw line. The Redhawks went 24-for-54 (44.4 percent) from the floor and 20-for-27 (74.1 percent) from the charity stripe. DYU held the advantage on the glass, grabbing 40 rebounds to RWU's 27 boards.
 
The Saints will continue their four-game road trips as they travel to #23 Walsh University this Sunday, December 3rd, for a 1:00 p.m. tip.