ERIE, P.A. – The Medaille College men's basketball team hit the road for their Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) matchup against the Penn State Behrend Lions. The Mavs fell short in a close game losing 57-61. Medaille's record falls to 3-5 as the Lions move to 7-2.

The Mavs were the first on the board with a made three-pointer from sophomore guard Bryce Smith (College Station, TX, A&M; Consolidated). The Lions answered with a three of their own, but sophomore Dante Moultrie (Buffalo, NY, North Tonawanda) and freshman Daunte Wilcott (Erie, PA, Mercyhurst Prep) were quick to respond, both scoring in the paint. Both teams traded the lead until they were tied at 20. The Lions put the pressure on late in the first half but senior Rodney Graves (Woodbridge, VA, Colgan) and Wilcott kept it close. The Mavs trailed 25-29 going into halftime.

Wilcott and Graves continued to impress for the Mavs as they combined for seven points to tie the score up at 32. Smith hit another three to grab the lead for Medaille followed by scoring from Wilcott and Nick Carmichael (Ontario, NY, Wayne). The Lions refused to back down and tied the score back up at 45. The Behrend offense scored seven unanswered points to get the edge on the Mavs.

With two minutes left to play and an eight-point Behrend lead, the Mavericks mounted a strong comeback effort. Kendall McGill (Largo, MD, Largo) hit a jumper in the paint followed by a Jorarei Bile (Oxon Hill, MD, Oxon Hill) defensive rebound that led to a three-pointer made by Graves. With less than 40 seconds left to play, McGill grabbed a defensive rebound that led to another Graves three. The Mavs trailed 57-58 with 30 seconds left in the game before the Lions added a layup and made free throw to secure the 61-57 win.

Medaille went 23-53 from the field, 8-20 beyond the arc, and 3-4 from the free throw line.

Game leaders for the Mavericks were Graves with 20 points going 7-12 with seven rebounds, and three assists, Wilcott with 11 points going 5-6, and Smith with six points. Carmichael and Trevor Young (Buffalo, NY, Frederick Law Olmsted) both added five points while McGill scored four points with seven rebounds.

The Mavs will return to action at home on December 18 against Mount Aloysius College. Tip-off is set for 3:00 p.m.