ALBANY, N.Y.- Jonathan Merceus (Union, NJ/Union) (Union, NJ/Union) tied his career high in points with 26 as the Setters fell to the Golden Knights of Saint Rose 71-61. The Setters fall to 9-14 overall and 6-13 in the Northeast-10, while the Golden Knights improve to 12-11 and 9-10 in conference play.

Saint Rose built a 19-10 lead midway through the opening half but the Setters answered with the next five points. A three-point play by Denzel Primus-Devonish (Riverdale, MD/St. John's College) (Riverdale, MD/St. John's College) and a jumper by Salvatore Vitello (Bridgewater, NJ / Bridgewater-Raritan) sliced the Golden Knight lead to four points at 19-15 with 9:46 left in the game. The Golden Knights rallied with 10 unanswered points and eventually took a 40-24 lead.

The Setters came out strong to start the second half as they were able to cut the deficit into single digits. The rally was capped by a pair of free throws by Merceus at the 12:29 mark to pull Pace to within five points at 46-41. The Golden Knights answered as they pushed their lead back into double digits at 58-45. The Setters again rallied. Keon Williams (Hackensack, NJ/Hackensack/Iona College) rallied the Setters back to within seven points with 5:07 to play  but Saint Rose stretched it to 16 points with 2:46 left as they held off the Setters down the stretch with free throws.

For the Setters, Merceus posted his seventh double-double of the season with 12 rebounds, while Williams added 10 points and three boards. Primus-Devonish totaled 10 points, three rebounds and four assists.

The Setters return home to face the Adelphi University Panthers on Wednesday, February 20 at the Goldstein Fitness Center at 7:30 pm.