Loretto, Pa. (December 15, 2023)—Mount St. Mary's used a 22-0 run to close the first half, and held off a late comeback run to top Saint Francis U, 73-65, on Friday night at DeGol Arena.  Joshua Reaves hit a career-high six three-pointers en route to a season-high 20 points to lead the Mountaineers in the victory.

Reaves finished the game 7-of-9 from the field and 6-of-8 from three-point range for his 20-point night.  His six three-pointers are the most by a Mount player on the road since Dee Barnes made seven at St. John's on Dec. 5, 2018.  Leffew added 14 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals in a solid all-around game while Montgomery added 14 points and four rebounds.  Dola Adebayo had eight points and a career-high 10 rebounds with Frantisek Barton adding six points and five boards off the bench.  Cam Gregory led Saint Francis with 20 points while Aaron Talbert chipped in 16.

The Mountaineers closed the first half with 22 unanswered points to take control of the game.  Barton opened the run with a bucket, followed by a pair of Reaves three-pointers.  Montgomery scored the next five before another Barton bucket.  Leffew nailed a corner triple with Dallas Hobbs converting a nice drive to close out the decisive run.  The Mount held SFU scoreless over the final 7:55 of the half, and did not allow a field goal over the final 11:14.

Reaves went 5-of-7 from distance in the opening half, finishing with a 17-point first-half performance.  Leffew and Montgomery each added seven in the opening stanza.

The Mount's 22-0 run was the team's first run of 20 or more points since a 24-0 run at Saint Francis in an 81-62 victory on Feb. 11, 2017.

Saint Francis used nine three-point field goals to stage a second-half rally, closing within six points in the closing minute, but the Mount was able to hold on for the road victory.  Adebayo scored in the lane to put the Mount ahead, 51-35, midway though the second half, and the Mount held a 63-50 lead after a Montgomery basket with 5:13 on the clock.  The Red Flash (4-7) pulled within 67-60 in the final minute, but Leffew scored on a lob on the inbounds pass to make it 69-60 with 44 seconds left.  Cam Gregory hit a three to cut it to six on the next possession, but the Mount was able to hold on down the stretch for the win.

The Mount finished the game shooting 48.3 percent overall and 8-of-21 (.381) from beyond the arc.  The Mount shot just 8-of-17 (.471) at the foul line and had 18 turnovers in the contest.  Saint Francis made 9-of-14 (.643) from three-point range in the second half and finished 10-of-22 (.455) in the game.  The Red Flash shot 38.2 percent in the contest.

UP NEXT:  The Mount plays at Georgia on Wednesday, December 20.  Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m.