Box Score Atlantic City, N.J. (March 12, 2024)—Mount St. Mary's saw its season come to an end with a 77-61 loss to Canisius in the Opening Round of the 2024 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament.
De'Shayne Montgomery and
Dakota Leffew combined for 49 points for the Mountaineers in the loss.
The Golden Griffins (14-17) started the game quick, jumping out to a 14-to-5 advantage five minutes into the contest. Canisius was able to build their lead to 13 points at 32-19 with 5:35 left in the half after a Dinkins pull-up jumper.
The Mount (13-19) made a run to get back into the game, cutting the deficit to 34-29 in the final minute of the half. Terre;; Ard, Jr., started the 10-to-2 run with a pair of free throws ahead of a Leffew three-pointer and a Montgomery drive. Frank Mitchell scored in the paint, but after an Ard, Jr., free throw, Montgomery came up with a steal and a slam to make it a five-point game.
Canisius was able to regain the momentum as Dinkins drained a three, and then Youri Fritz had a steal and a dunk at the final buzzer to make it 39-29 at the break.
Dinkins poured in 15 first-half points while Mittchell added six points, eight boards, three assists and three steals for Canisius. The Golden Griffins shot 60.0 percent in the half with just four turnovers. Leffew and Montgomery each had 10 for the Mount in the opening half. Mount St. Mary's shot 45.2 percent from the field with seven turnovers.
Canisius was able to maintain a double-digit advantage throughout the second half, building the advantage to 50-35 five minutes into the second half. The closest the Mount was able to pull within was 61-51 with 8:46 left in the contest.
Montgomery led the Mount with 26 points, the sixth time over the past seven games he has reached the 20-point mark. Leffew added 23 points, five rebounds and four assists in the loss.
Dinkins paced Canisius with 24 points while Cam Palesse finished with 19 points and six rebounds. Mitchell added eight points, 16 rebounds and four steals in the victory as well.
The Mount shot 43.6 percent overall and finished 8-for-19 (.421) from three-point range. Canisius shot 54.8 percent in the contest.
