Purple Knights Battle Back But Rally Falls Just Short in Exhibition Loss at Sacred Heart

Fairfield, Conn.-The University of Bridgeport men's basketball team trail host Sacred Heart University Pioneers by as many as 24 points and the first, and the Purple Knights were down by 20, 60-40, at the half, but UB battled to pull with one-point of their Division I hosts twice in the second half, before falling 101-94 in exhibition action on Saturday afternoon.  Bridgeport closed the gap to one at 78-77 and 80-79 with 6:23 to play and trailed only by two points, 94-02 with 1:26 to play, before the Pioneers finished the game on a 9-2 to run.

Senior Jesse Jones (Irvington, N.J.) led five Purple Knights' in double-digit scoring with a game-high 28 points, as he connected on 6-of-12 three-point shots.

Classmates Devon Elliott (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Ernest Rouse (Freeport, N.Y.), each chipped in 15 points for UB.

Rounding out the Bridgeport five in double figures were newcomers Muhammed Ahmed (Sr., Bronx, N.Y.) and junior Montana Mayfield (Philadelphia, Pa.), who each netted 13 points.  Ahmed led Bridgeport on the glass with six rebounds, and Mayfield had a team-best seven assists.

The UB men's basketball team will continue exhibitor play with another contest against a Division I opponent, when the Purple Knights travel to Fairfield University of a game on Friday night, November 6th at 7:00 p.m.  The game will take place on campus in Fairfield's Alumni Hall.