The Mount Saint Mary College Knights (3-11, 1-4 Skyline) put together a dominant defensive performance and clutch shots down the stretch to secure a hard-fought 70-61 victory over the Manhattanville Valiants (7-4, 1-2 Skyline) on Saturday afternoon at Kennedy Gymnasium. Coach Ryan Kadlubowski hailed the victory, stating, "I am extremely happy with our energy and focus. We came out strong and really played the best defensive half of the season. Made some tough plays in the second half to secure a big win on the road."

From the get-go, the Knights set the tone defensively, holding the Valiants to just 13 points in the first half. Elijah Barnett led the charge with 7 points and 3 rebounds, while Ryan Graham chipped in 5 points and 2 assists. The Knights' stingy defense also generated fast-break opportunities, leading to 11 points on the break in the first half.

The second half saw a more offensive-minded Manhattanville team, as they managed to close the gap to within 5 points midway through the period. However, the Knights responded with timely baskets from Jayden Figueroa and Connor Cyran to extend their lead back to double digits. Figueroa finished the game with 21 points and 5 rebounds, while Cyran added 7 points and 4 assists.

Down the stretch, the Knights held their nerve, knocking down free throws and making key defensive stops to seal the victory. Graham, who finished with a game-high 17 points and 3 three-pointers, iced the game with two free throws with 10 seconds remaining.

"Our team showed a lot of heart and determination today," said Graham. "We never gave up, even when we were down. We came together as a team and found a way to win."

They will look to carry this momentum into their next game on Wednesday, January 10th, as they travel to face Sarah Lawrence College at 6 PM.

Key Stats:

• Leading Scorers: Barnett (MSMC) 21 pts, Lotito (Manhattanville) 21 pts
• Rebounds: MSMC 45, Manhattanville 28
• Assists: MSMC 11, Manhattanville 15
• Turnovers: MSMC 22, Manhattanville 13
• Three-pointers: MSMC 5-21, Manhattanville 9-25

Next Game:

• Wed, Jan 10: at Sarah Lawrence College, 6 PM