Second half scoring not enough to lift Men's Basketball to victory

PITTSBURGH --- Carlow University men's basketball out-scored Indiana University Southeast, 44-40, in the second half, but could not mount a comeback in a 77-66 River States Conference loss Thursday.

PITTSBURGH --- Carlow University men's basketball out-scored Indiana University Southeast, 44-40, in the second half, but could not mount a comeback in a 77-66 River States Conference loss Thursday.

Riley Comforti scored a career- and season-high 27 points, adding three assists and three steals in the effort.

Brevan Williams sank three of Carlow's six treys and scored 15 points off the bench for the Celtics (1-16, 0-6 RSC).

The Grenadiers (8-7, 3-3 RSC) jumped out to a 14-4 lead to start the game.

Isaiah Stein slammed down an impressive dunk seven minutes in to cut IU Southeast's advantage to seven, but the Grenadiers steadily pulled away to lead by 15 at the half.

Another dunk from David Clary with under eight minutes in regulation set off a 14-4 run for Carlow.

Williams hit all three of his three-pointers in a row to bring the Celtics within eight points of tying the game and only 3:21 remaining on the board.

With under a minute left in regulation, the Celtics were forced to foul to gain possession, and IU Southeast scored its final seven points from the free throw line for the win.

Troy Frantz scored an and-one layup with 30 seconds left, but Carlow was unable to sink any more baskets as time ticked off the clock.

Carlow out-scored the Grenadiers, 33-29, off the bench and out-rebounded IU Southeast, 45-43.

The Celtics out-rebounded the Grenadiers, 25-16, in second half.

Carlow returns to action hosting Midway (Ky.) University Saturday, Jan. 7 at 3 p.m.