Men’s Basketball faces narrow loss against Brooklyn College at Mustang Classic

OWINGS MILLS, Md. --- Carlow University men's basketball narrowly scored a comeback victory in a 66-63 loss to Brooklyn College at the Stevenson University Mustang Classic Friday night.

The Celtics (0-3) shot 75 percent (21 for 28) from the foul line on the night.

Clayton Cook (Brookville, Pa./Brookville Area HS) led Carlow with 12 points and eight rebounds, while Riley Comforti (Scottdale, Pa./Southmoreland HS/Alderson-Broaddus University) contributed 11 points, two steals and an assist. Byron Gaskins (Woodbridge, Va./Christ Chapel Academy) went 5 for 5 from the foul line and added 11 points.

Evan Hauser (Buffalo, N.Y./Westfield Academy/Wells College) got the game started with a three-pointer just seconds after tip-off, and Brooklyn returned the favor on the next trip down the court. Gavin McLain (Acworth, Ga./North Paulding HS) landed a dunk to see the Celtics trailing 15-8 seven minutes into the half. Brooklyn hit a jump shot to put them ahead, 17-8, and neither team scored for over three minutes until the Bulldogs broke the stalemate with a layup at 9:54. Comforti sank two free throws to set off a 12-5 run for the Celtics that spanned over five minutes, with Carlow down nine toward the end of the half. The Celtics trailed, 34-23, heading into halftime.

Carlow outscored Brooklyn 40-32 in the second half. At one point the Bulldogs led by 17, but the Celtics continued to battle and chip away at the lead. A Brooklyn foul on a three-point shot sent Gaskins to the line with 30 seconds left in the game, where he sank all three shots to cut the Bulldogs' lead to 64-60. He hit a trey immediately following a Carlow timeout to see the Celtics trailing by one with just 21 seconds remaining. A foul sent the Bulldogs to the line where they landed both free throws, and two attempts at a last-minute three pointer missed for the Celtics.

Carlow outscored Brooklyn 20-17 off the bench, and both teams scored 22 points in the paint. The Bulldogs outrebounded the Celtics, 44-38.

Malik Dale sank three of the Bulldogs' four treys on the night and scored a game-high 17 points. Brendan Armour added 13 points and nine rebounds, while Stephon McGill dished out three assists and picked up two steals.

Carlow concludes the Mustang Classic with a 2 p.m. game against Penn State Berks tomorrow.