BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Medaille College men's basketball team etched out their first conference win of the season today over the Mount Aloysius Mounties. The Mavericks won 85-80.

Bryce Smith (College Station, TX, A&M; Consolidated) started the scoring off on a high note for the Mavs with a good three-pointer off of a fast-break off of a rebound from Rodney Graves (Woodbridge, VA, Colgan). They kept it going to eventually be up 15-4, six minutes into the game. At 11 minutes left in the half, Kendall McGill (Largo, MD, Largo) sunk a jumper in the paint to put the Mavs up 13 points. The Mounties started to creep up from there. With just over one minute left to play in the half, the Mounties had a dunk, and two good layups to finish down by only four points. The Mavericks held the lead, 40-36.

Graves started the half strong with a good jumper, and a layup to extend the lead for the Mavs. Just under 14 minutes left, the Mounties started their comeback. After a good free-throw at 12:44, they were within three points. It became a real battle for the lead. Just under 11 minutes to go, the Mounties made a free-throw for the tying basket. At 8:53, they took the lead. At 6:52 Smith made another huge three, which started their comeback. With one minute left, McGill had a good free-throw and that kept them in the lead until the end. Graves had a dunk to put the final nail in the coffin for the Mounties. The Mavs took it home winning 85-80.

The Mavericks went 28-59 in the field with a 38.5 field goal percentage.

Game leaders for the Mavs were McGill with 23 points going 8-15 in the field with three made threes, with three rebounds, two assists, and two steals, Graves with 15 points going 4-12 making seven free-throws, with eight rebounds, four assists, and three steals, and Jorarei Bile (Oxon Hill, MD, Oxon Hill) with 13 points going 6-10, with nine rebounds, one assist, and one block.

The Mavs will take a break for the upcoming holiday, and will resume playing at the Woodcliff Hotel & Spa Invitational at St. John Fisher College on Wednesday, December 29. They will face the hosts at 5:00 p.m.