NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Pace University men's basketball team was defeated at Southern Connecticut State University on Saturday by a final score of 94-79.

Inside the Numbers
*Brandon Jacobs (Cambria Heights, NY/Long Island Lutheran) and Vinny Dalessandro (Levittown, PA/Conwell-Egan Catholic) led the Pace offense with 16 points apiece. Dalessandro put in all his points in the first half, making six of his seven attempts from the floor. Jacobs added five assists and three steals.

*Sophomore Peyton Wejnert (Point Pleasant, NJ/Southern Regional) (15 points) and Greg Poleon (Brooklyn, NY/Abraham Lincoln / Coffeyville CC) (10 points) also reached double figures, with Poleon scoring all of his points in the second half. Wejnert led the Setters with seven rebounds while Poleon chipped in six.

*The Blue and Gold tied a season-high with 10 three-pointers, led by three each from Jacobs and Dalessandro. Pace also put together its best percentage of the year, needing only 19 attempts (52.6 percent).

*Southern Connecticut knocked in 14 long balls of their own, making seven in each half. Jerry Luckett led the Owls with 29 points while Isaiah McLeod added 25.

*The Setters trailed by just two points, 76-74, with under five minutes remaining in regulation. SCSU ended the contest on an 18-5 run.

How it Happened
It was a back and forth affair for about 90 percent of the contest, with both offenses playing at a high level. The teams combined for 13 three-pointers in a tightly contested first half that saw eight ties and 10 lead changes. The Setters had three-point advantages on four occasions, including after a Luke McLaughlin (Blauvelt, NY/Tappan Zee) layup provided a 42-39 lead with 2:04 left. SCSU would go on to score the final five points of the half, including a three-pointer in the final seconds.

There would be another eight lead changes in the first 11:39 of the second half. Back-to-back jumpers from Poleon lifted Pace to a 52-48 advantage. The Setters earned their final edge at 60-58 following a Jacobs three-ball. SCSU would then rattle off eight straight points to put the Blue and Gold on the comeback trail for the rest of the game. Pace cut the lead to just one at 68-67, but that would be the closest it would get.

The Setters then trailed by just two points, 76-74, after another three-pointer from Jacobs. From there, SCSU ended the contest on an 18-5 run to put the game away.

Up Next
The Setters return home for their final two games before break, beginning with a matchup against Goldey-Beacom on Wednesday night (7 p.m.)