By KYLE ADAMS
Staff Writer
The Men’s Basketball team started out the season 9–0, the best start in school history. On Saturday, Dec. 3 that streak came to an end, to the Southern Connecticut Owls.
Throughout the first half, Jerry Luckett, Jr. led the Owls to a healthy lead, scoring 11 points in the half. The Golden Knights struggled offensively, missing nine shots in the paint.
At times it looked like a 3-point shooting contest, both teams shooting over 50 percent from beyond the arch in the half. The Owls led going into halftime by a score of 43 – 34.
The Golden Knights began the second half strong, starting out with a 10–0 run to take the lead. The Owls responded with a 9–0 run of their own to regain their lead and momentum.
Tyler Sayre helped drive Saint Rose back into the game with 14 points in the second half. With just over a minute to play, Jack Jones finished off an offensive rebound to bring the game within three points. After grabbing the next rebound, Jamaal Greenwood drilled a deep 3-pointer to tie the game at 66, with 40 seconds left, leaving the Daniel P. Nolan Gymnasium in a erupt.
Jerry Luckett, Jr. was the hero for Southern Connecticut. With 18 seconds he nailed a jumper to give the Owls the lead. Saint Rose was then forced to foul. With three seconds, Tyler Sayre got the defensive rebound off the foul shot and, with a mysterious lack of timeout called by Saint Rose, missed the full court tossup.
Tyler Sayre led the scoring effort for the Golden Knights with 16 points and Jack Jones added 15, including three 3-pointers. Sayre also had seven rebounds; Jones with five rebounds. Damon Coleman led with six assists.
Southern Connecticut improves to 6–2 on the season while Saint Rose falls to 9–1. The Golden Knights will travel to play Adelphi on Wednesday, Dec. 7 and are back at home on Monday, Dec. 12, against Stonehill at 7:00 p.m.
