Emmitsburg, Md. (December 5, 2015)--BK Ashe (Washington, D.C.) scored 22 points while Gregory Graves (Sterling, Va.) added 18 points and 10 rebounds as Mount St. Mary's University raced to an 85-68 win over rival Loyola (Md.) in the 171st edition of the Catholic Clash.

The Mount, one of the top teams in the nation in forcing turnovers, generated 30 points off 26 Loyola turnovers in the game.  The 26 turnovers forced are the most by a Mount team since forcing 27 in a 65-50 win over Saint Francis U on March 4, 2010.  The Mountaineers entered the game 11th in the nation in turnover percentage, forcing a turnover on 24.4 percent of their defensive possessions.

It was the defense that keyed an early 11-0 first-half run that allowed the Mount to take control of the game.  The Mountaineers forced three turnovers in a span of 35 seconds with Chris Wray (Shelby, N.C.) converting a pair of layups while Junior Robinson (Mebane, N.C.) capped the spurt with a three-pointer off a Wray steal and assist for a 15-to-6 lead with 11:44 left in the opening half.

The Mount (2-6) was able to maintain the lead at 38-31 with 2:29 left in the half before another scoring flurry pushed the advantage to double figures.  Charles Glover (Bowie, Md.) hit a pair of free throws to start a 9-0 run that pushed the lead to double figures.  The Mount stole the inbounds pass, and Robinson converted a four-point play to extend the lead to 13.  After a Loyola miss at the foul line, Ashe nailed a three-pointer, his fourth of the first half, for a 47-31 advantage. A pair of Greyhound free throws made the score 47-33 at the break.

The first five minutes of the second half was more of the same as the Mountaineers extended the lead to 24 points.  Wray was again the catalyst, scoring the first four points of the second half, including a putback dunk that made the score 51-33.  After a pair of Loyola free throws, Khalid Nwandu (York, Pa.) scored three consecutive points, Ashe converted a fast-break bucket, and Will Miller (Dallas, Texas) drained a three-pointer from the left corner to give the Mount its biggest lead at 59-35 lead with 14:59 left in the second half

Loyola (1-7) was able to whittle the deficit to nine with 5:13 left, but the Mountaineers were able to hold off the rally and secure the 17-point victory.

This was the 171st meeting between the Mount and Loyola in the most-played rivalry in the state of Maryland.  The Mountaineers have won the past three meetings and hold a 99-72 lead in the all-time series known as the Catholic Clash.  The Mount is 10-5 against the Greyhounds since 2001.

Ashe scored 18 of his game-high 22 points in the first half for the Mount while adding seven rebounds and four assists.  Graves tallied 18 points and a season-high 10 rebounds for his seventh career double-double.  Robinson added 17 points and six assists while Wray stuffed the stat sheet with eight points, five rebounds, four steals, two assists and a block.

The Mount shot 41.3 percent overall and was 12-of-22 (.545) from three-point range in the win.  Loyola shot 41.0 percent in the game and was 2-of-17 (.118) from beyond the arc.

Mount St. Mary's rounds out its three-game homestand on Tuesday, December 5, against Bucknell.  Tip-off at Knott Arena is set for 7:00 p.m.

Game Notes:  The Mount's trademark Mayhem pressure has forced 49 turnovers over the past two games…The Mountaineers have scored 65 points off turnovers over that span…The Mount is now 31-9 at home under head coach Jamion Christian…The Mount has won eight of its past nine games against Patriot League opponents.