Box Score

TROY, N.Y. – The Mount Saint Mary College men's basketball team (5-3, 2-0 Skyline) held off a late charge by The Sage Colleges (4-3, 1-1 Skyline) to escape the 'Swamp' with an 84-83 victory in Skyline Conference action Wednesday evening.

The Knights went into the break with a 43-34 lead after shooting 53.1 percent from the field in the first half. After banking the first three points of the second frame, the Knights saw their lead disappear when the Gators went on a 15-2 run to tie the game at 48. The Knights were able to grab a 55-50 lead, but the home team erased the deficit once again, scoring six straight points to take its first lead of the second half at 56-55.

Sage upped its lead to three at 62-59 before senior guard Anthony Cipriano (Staten Island, N.Y.) drained a three to tie the game once again. Senior guard Donte Howell (Baldwin, N.Y.) scored the next basket to grab the lead back for the Knights. After a Sage free throw, senior guard Joe Stabach (Staten Island, N.Y.) scored five straight for the Knights to push their lead to six. The Gators took that lead away once again, scoring six consecutive points to knot things up at 69-69 with 6:16 to play.

The teams traded baskets for the next three minutes, leaving the Knights with a 76-75 lead at the 3:26 mark. The visitors then went on a 6-0 run over the next three minutes to take a seven-point lead with 39 ticks on the clock.

The Gators proved that no lead was safe on their home court, as they began to chip away by scoring and then fouling the Knights repeatedly. Melvin Ford sank a jumper to cut the deficit to five, and then the Gators fouled sophomore guard Stephen Steyer (Staten Island, N.Y.). Steyer split his free throws to get the lead back to six before Ryan LaBelle nailed a quick three to cut the Knight lead in half. Howell was unable to make either of his free throws after being fouled, leading to a chance to tie for Sage. Jeff Stopera missed a shot from long range, which was rebounded by senior forward Joe Henain (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.), who, in turn, was fouled as well.

Henain missed his first attempt from the charity stripe to continue the Knights' troubles at the line, but drained the second to give the Knights what looked to be a safe four-point lead with just nine seconds remaining. Sage's Brett Ullman was then able to fire off a three with time dwindling, making the shot to cut the lead to one with barely a second remaining. The Gators quickly fouled Howell, whose free throw struggles continued as he missed both shots again. Sage was able to grab the rebound and throw up a desperation heave from inside their own paint, but there would not be a miraculous finish for the home team as the Knights clinged on to that one-point advantage at the final buzzer.

Stabach led the Knights with 22 points, while Henain matched his season best with 16 rebounds in the winning effort. Senior forward Chris Pisciotta (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) added 15 points, Howell scored another 13 and freshman forward Alex Smith (Marlboro, N.Y.) set a new career-high in his eighth game with 10 points.

Five Gators scored in double figures on Wednesday. Kai Deans led with 15 points, while LaBelle and Ford contributed 14 apiece. Stopera banked 13 and Mason Horne picked up a double-double with 11 points and a team-high 10 boards.

The Knights shot 50 percent (32-of-64) from the field in Wednesday's victory, but only made 50 percent (15-of-30) from the free throw line. The home team took away a 42-39 rebound advantage for the evening.

The Knights return to action on Monday, Dec. 9, when they travel to Centenary College (N.J.) for a non-conference matchup. Tip-off for the Knights final contest of the fall semester and 2013 calendar year is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Follow the Knights on Twitter at @MSMCKnights