Box Score

NEWBURGH, N.Y. – Senior forward Chris Pisciotta (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) scored 23 points and pulled down 11 rebounds for his second double-double of the year to lead the Mount Saint Mary College men's basketball team (2-2) to an 87-79 victory over Brooklyn College (1-2) on Saturday in the Knights' home opener at the Kaplan Center.

Pisciotta's 23 points were a game-high and the senior's best output of the early season. He was good on 3-of-5 three-pointers in the win and shot 50 percent for the game. Senior guard Donte Howell (Baldwin, N.Y.) also set a season best with 20 points on the afternoon, including an 8-for-8 outing at the free-throw line. Senior forward Joe Henain (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) picked up his game in the second half, picking up 10 of his 15 points in the second frame. He also blocked five shots on the afternoon.

The Knights opened the scoring with a layup by senior guard Joe Stabach (Staten Island, N.Y.) 33 seconds into the game. Brooklyn tied the game up 20 seconds later on Valon Djombalic's layup, but Stabach came right back down and drained a three to give the Knights a 5-2 lead. The Knights led from this point until the final buzzer in a stellar offensive effort.

Brooklyn put a scare in the Knights in the second half, scoring seven straight points in 34 seconds to cut the deficit to just a point at 52-51. The Mount responded with a quick 6-0 run to push the lead back to a comfortable seven points. Brooklyn's Jamel Gist was fouled on a layup to create a three-point play with 9:36 remaining in regulation to cut the deficit to three points, but this was the closest the Bulldogs would come the rest of the way. From the 2:30 mark to the end of the game, the Knights made all 10 of their free throw attempts to secure the victory.

Brooklyn's Jai Kellman led the Bulldogs with 19 points on the afternoon. Justin Staton grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds. The Gjonbalaj brothers also contributed double-digit points, with Edon scoring 15 off the bench and Egzon adding 14.

The Knights were successful on 47.3 percent (26-of-55) of their field goals on the afternoon, including 10-of-24 (41.7 percent) from long distance. The visiting Bulldogs shot 38.5 percent (30-of-78) from the field. The Knights were strong from the charity stripe, making 25-of-30 free throws (83.3 percent).

The Knights return to action on Tuesday, Nov. 26, when they host Hudson Valley rival SUNY New Paltz. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. from the Kaplan Center.

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