LATROBE, Pa. (Jan. 14) – The Saint Vincent men's basketball team fought fiercely throughout Wednesday night's Presidents' Athletic Conference contest, but Chatham University held on for an 87-80 victory at the Robert S. Carey Center.
The loss drops Saint Vincent to 7-7 overall and 2-3 in PAC play, while the Cougars improve to 9-4 and 4-1 in league action.
Saint Vincent stayed within striking distance for much of the game, as both teams traded runs in a competitive first half. The Bearcats shot 43.1 percent from the field (28-of-65) and made 19-of-26 free throws (73.1 percent), but Chatham's balanced offensive attack and clutch shooting ultimately proved decisive.
Chatham converted 49.3 percent of its attempts (35-of-71) and knocked down 6-of-19 from three to build and sustain its lead.
The Bearcats' offense was paced by a big night from
Dev Ostrowski, who led all scorers with 24 points on 6-of-15 shooting and drained 3-of-9 three-point attempts while also going 9-of-12 from the free-throw line.
Jaden Gales added 13 points, and
Terek Crosby provided 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting, giving Saint Vincent a pair of double-figure contributors.
Jaden Payne chipped in 11 points, and
Mike Iuzzolino scored five as part of the Bearcats' balanced effort.
Chatham's scoring was highlighted by Diaun Pinkett's 21 points and Lovenson Xavier's 19, with Jake TenBerge contributing 17 and Drew Vizenor adding 14 to help the Cougars maintain their advantage. Chatham also controlled the boards with 28 total rebounds, including key possessions down the stretch that stifled the Bearcats' comeback attempts.
The game featured multiple lead changes and six ties before Chatham pulled ahead in the second half. Saint Vincent remained resilient late, cutting the margin to within single digits, but the Cougars' ability to hit free throws and convert in transition helped them close out the home squad.
Saint Vincent will look to bounce back in their next contest on Saturday, January 17 as they host Allegheny in a PAC matchup. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Saturday night in the Carey Center.
