BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Despite four Cannoneers scoring in double figures and an 10-point lead with 2:40 remaining, the Pratt Institute men's basketball team was handed a 66-63 defeat by the University of Mount Saint Vincent on Thursday evening at the Activity Resource Center.
Mekhi Davis recorded his first collegiate double-double netting 12 points and pulling down 16 rebounds – doubling his previous career best. Ace Bibbs led Pratt (0-9) in scoring with 13 points, and six rebounds and two assists.
Matias Alkemade reached double-figure scoring for the first time in his collegiate career, posting 12 points with eight rebounds. Cameron Windt rounded out the four in double figures with 10 points, three rebounds and two assists. Sebastian Roda chipped in six points, three rebounds and two assists off the bench while posting a game-high +11 plus-minus.
A tight first half saw eight lead changes and three ties and neither team ahead by more than six, but the teams entered the lockers deadlocked at 34-all.
The teams remained close to start the second before Pratt assembled a 9-0 run to sparked by back-to-back buckets by Alkemade and a jumper by Josh Ramharak to move ahead 51-41, the first double-digit separation of the game. The lead shrank to four before a 6-0 spurt pushed the lead back to double digits and a Windt trifecta with 4:21 to play pushed the lead to 11, 60-49.
Pratt held a 61-51 lead with 2:40 to play when the Dolphins scored 11 unanswered over 1:15 – knocking down a trio of three-pointers – to take a 62-61 lead. An Alkemade bucket gave Pratt the lead again with UMSV responding on their next possession and Pratt couldn't convert. A pair of free throws by the Dolphins pushed the lead to three and the Cannoneers had the final possession with 2.7 remaining but couldn't get a tying shot off.
DJ Tucker led Mount Saint Vincent with a 26-point, 13-rebound double-double, playing all 40 minutes.
Pratt has a day off before hosting Dickinson College on Saturday, December 7 in a non-conference test tipping off at 1 p.m. at the ARC.
