PLEASANTVILLE, NY- Kyle Pearson led the Setters with 17 points but the Setters fell short to the Philadelphia Rams 58-55 in non-conference play.
 
The Setters fall to 5-12 on the season, while the Rams improve to 10-5 overall.
 
Pace controlled the early action as they held four leads of at least five points through the first 12 minutes of play. The Rams battled back to even the score at 19 and 21 before the Setters retook the lead. Pace ripped off the next seven points behind a Mike Demello triple and baskets by Khalil Brown and Pearson. Philadelphia hit a late basket but the Setters led 28-23 at the break.
 
The Rams chipped away to start the second half as they took their first lead since earl in the contest at the 14:10 mark following a pair of free throws. The Setters briefly took back the lead at 33-32 following a lay-up by Shelton Mickell but Philadelphia scored 12 of the next 16 points to pull ahead by seven points at 44-37 with 8:39 left in the game.
 
Pace answered with a 7-2 run, capped by a Mickell triple, to close to within two points at 46-44 with 6:16 on the clock. Philadelphia went back up by four but Mickell again came up with a clutch trifecta to close the gap to a point at 52-51 with 3:54 remaining in the contest. The Setters battled to the final buzzer but could not get closer than two points in the final two minutes.
 
For Pace, Pearson 17 points led the way for the Setters along with three rebounds. Mickell totaled 16 points, four boards, three assists and two steals, Demello added 12 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
 
The Setters hit the road this weekend as they travel to Saint Anselm on Saturday, January 17 for a Northeast-10 Conference game at 3:30 pm.