BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Medaille College men's basketball team end the Buffalo State Cole's Classic Tournament with a loss to the Ohio Northern University Polar Bears in a close game. The Mavericks went down 70-78.

It was a slow start to the game for the Mavericks. The Polar Bears got ahead quick, 7-0. Rodney Graves, for the second day in a row, was the first to put points on the board for the Mavs. The score kept getting out of hand. With just over four minutes left in the first half, Jaqwan Washington (Bryan, TX, Bryan) started a rally with a made layup. The Mavs were able to cut their lead to 19 points. They went into halftime down 27-46.

Coming back from halftime, the Mavericks made some major adjustments. Daunte Wilcott (Erie, PA, Mercyhurst Prep) started it off with a made layup from Graves. They started to chip away at the Polar Bear's lead. Just over seven minutes in, the Mavs were within seven points. They stayed right behind them as the game progressed. With 5:26 left, Travis Sanders (Cleveland, OH, Euclid) got them within six points. Kendall McGill (Largo, MD, Largo) tacked it on to get within four. It was a battle on the court, but the Polar Bears came out on top, 78-70.

The Mavericks went 29-65 in the field giving them a 44.6 shooting percentage. They also went 7-13 at the free throw line.

Game leaders for the Mavericks were Graves with 21 points going 8-17, with nine rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Graves also made the Cole's Classic All-Tournament Team. McGill with 15 points going 7-16 with three rebounds and two blocks, and Sanders with 12 points going 4-8 with seven rebounds and one assist.

The Mavs will take a break for Thanksgiving, but will be right back at it on Tuesday, November 30. They will host their first home game against Keuka College. Tip-off will be at 7:00 p.m.