RIVERDALE, NY - The CMSV Men's Basketball team returned to action for the first time in 2017 on Tuesday evening, hosting #21 Denison University in a non-conference matchup. The Dolphins led for most of the game but were held scoreless over the final 2:43 of the game, as the visitors scored the final 13 points to win 72-64, dropping the Mount to 2-8 on the season. 

Matthew Sowah led the team in scoring for the third straight game, tallying 16 points, on 7-of-11 shooting, while Trevor Johnson added 12 points. Andrew Curiel added nine points and nine rebounds while Ammad Alkhulaidi chipped in with nine points and 10 rebounds, which led all players. 

The Mount opened up the game on a 9-2 run, taking a seven point lead with 16:49 left on the clock after a Nick Nemergut 3-pointer.


The teams struggled to find any offense over the next few possessions but after a 3-point play made by Matthew Bauer and a layup by Johnny Vernasco, the game was tied at 20 with 7:39 left in the first half. 

Over the next two minutes the Dolphins outscored the Big Red 11-2 and took a nine point lead after back-to-back three's by Curiel and Johnson made the score 31-22 with 5:27 remaining. 



The Big Red scored to cut the lead to seven points with 1:56 left in the game to make the score 38-31 and neither team would score on their final two possessions of the half and the Dolphins would take their seven point lead into halftime. 

In the second half the Dolphins continued to hold their slim lead over the nationally ranked visitors but a jumper by Jett Speelman with 3:30 gone by in the gave Denison a 41-40 lead, their first of the game. 

Denison would grow their lead to 46-40 a few minutes later after a 3-point play by Johnny Vernasco, however the Dolphins did not quit and started chipping away. Alkhulaidi and Sowah would combine for the next eight points to retake the lead at 48-46 with 11:28 left in the game. 

A Denison three, on their next possession gave them back the lead but back-to-back three's by Khalil Shorter and Johnson gave the Dolphins a five point lead with just over 10 minutes left. 



CMSV held the lead until the 4:11 mark when David Muerer made both free throws to give the Big Red a 59-58 lead. The Dolphins fought back to retake the lead after back-to-back baseline drives by Sowah gave his team a 64-59 lead with 2:43 lead. 


The Dolphins were held scoreless over the final 2:43 of the game as the Big Red scored the final 13 points to come away victorious 72-64.