Emmitsburg, Md. (February 27, 2014)--Mount St. Mary's lost to Sacred Heart, 72-65, on Thursday night at Knott Arena.  Senior Julian Norfleet paced the Mountaineers with 17 points and eight assists.

The Mount, which could have clinched a home game in the upcoming Northeast Conference Tournament with a win, started the game strong, sprinting out to a 16-6 lead just six minutes into the contest.  Rashad Whack opened the contest with a three-pointer, and after a Sacred Heart basket, Taylor Danaher scored on a fast-break lay-up, and Byron Ashe followed with five straight points to make it 9-2.

A Danaher steal and breakaway dunk, and a pair of Ashe free throws extended the Mount's early lead to double figures.  The Mountaineers (12-16, 8-7 NEC) took their biggest lead of the game, 19-8, after a Will Miller three-point basket.

Sacred Heart (5-25, 2-13 NEC) was able to get back into the game with an 11-2 run that cut the Mount's lead to 21-19.  After the Mountaineers pushed the lead back to five, 26-21, Sacred Heart closed the half with another 11-2 run to take a 32-28 lead at the break.

The Mount fought back from an eight-point deficit early in the second half to take a 39-38 lead on a Gregory Graves traditional three-point play.  Sacred Heart answered by scoring the next five points to regain the lead.

The Mount was able to tie the score at 46-46 on a Graves alley-oop dunk, but then missed five consecutive three-point attempts, and Sacred Heart was able to push the lead back to five, 51-46, with 8:10 left in the game.

Graves converted another three-point play to cut the Mount's deficit to 51-49, but Phil Gaetano scored on a drive, and De'Von Barnett added a bucket in the pain to make it 55-49.  The Mount would get no closer than four points the rest of the way.

Norfleet finished with 17 points and eight assists to lead the Mount while Ashe added 13 points.  Whack had 12 points, five rebounds and five steals with Graves chipped in 12 points off the bench.

Barnett led all scorers with 24 points for Sacred Heart, hitting 12-of-16 from the field while adding seven boards.  Evan Kelley added 14 points and seven boards off the bench with Gaetano tallying 11 points, seven assists and five boards.

The Mount was held to 17-of-53 (.321) shooting in the game, including 7-of-29 (.241) from three-point range.  On the other hand, Sacred Heart shot a sizzling 58.0 percent (29-of-50) while holding a commanding 39-to-26 edge on the boards.

Despite the loss, the Mount still has a chance to clinch a home playoff game with a win over Saint Francis University in the final game of the regular season on Saturday.  The Mount can finish as high as the No. 3 seed, and as low as the No. 5 seed, based on Saturday's NEC results.

The Mount will hosts Saint Francis University at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, at Knott Arena.  Prior to the game, the Mount will honor seniors Norfleet, Whack, Sam Prescott and Kristijan Krajina.