PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y.- Jonathan Merceus (Union, NJ/Union) (Union, NJ/Union) totaled 24 points and nine rebounds as the Setters fell in the final seconds 68-67 to the Penmen of Southern New Hampshire in Northeast-10 Conference action. The Setters fall to 8-8 overall and 5-7 in conference play, while Penmen improve to 11-5 overall and 7-5 in conference play.
The teams battled through a close first half as the Penmen held a six point lead at the midway point of the half. The Setters rallied back with the next seven points to take a 22-21 lead. The teams traded baskets and were tied at 29 with 3:17 to play in the half. The Penmen pushed out to a 36-29 lead and took a 36-31 lead into halftime.
The Penmen added their halftime lead as they led by as much as eight points at 47-39 with 12:45 left in the game. Pace rallied with a 14-4 run capped off by a Merceus three-point play to put the Setters up 53-51 with 7:53 remaining in the game. Southern New Hampshire regained the lead and jumped out to a seven point advantage at 66-59 with 1:49 on the clock.
The Setters ripped off the next eight points as Keon Williams (Hackensack, NJ/Hackensack/Iona College) (Hackensack, NJ/Hackensack/Iona College) hit three free throws and Denzel Primus-Devonish (Riverdale, MD/St. John's College) (Riverdale, MD/St. John's College) added a jumper in the run. Ahmad George (Bowie, MD/Archbishop Carroll) (Bowie, MD/Archbishop Carroll) capped off the run with steal and lay-up as he was fouled on the play with 24.6 on the clock. George completed the three-point play to put the Setters up by one at 67-66. The Penmen answered with a lay-up with 9.7 seconds left but the Setters had one shot that came up short as time expired.
For the Setters, Primus-Devonish finished with 14 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals. He became the 13th player in school history to dish out 300 career assists and finished the game with 304 assists. Kai Smith (Upper Marlboro, MD/St. Mary's Ryken) netted 11 points and four assists, while Williams tallied nine points and seven rebounds.
The Setters return to action on Saturday, January 26 as they travel to Rindge, NH to take on the Ravens of Franklin Pierce University at 3:30 pm.
