Hot-Shooting Saint Anselm Tops Men's Basketball In 2014-15 Season Opener

Bridgeport, Conn. - The University of Bridgeport men's basketball team lost its 2014-15 season opener at home against the Hawks of St. Anselm College, 90-75, on Saturday evening as part of the Northeast 10 versus East Coast Conference Basketball Challenge.

Bridgeport held a lead in the game for a total of 13 seconds, as they started the game scoring the first basket to go up by a 2-0 margin. St. Anselm then responded with a three pointer and never trailed from that basket on. The Hawks extend their lead to as many as 18 points late in the first half, 43-25, with 3:16 to play. Bridgeport would end the half on a 13-4 run to cut the lead to single digits, 47-38, going into halftime.  In the opening stanza, the hawks shot a blistering 63.3 percent from the floor, hitting 19 of 30 shots including five-of-nine three-pointers.

To start the second half, UB would trim the lead to four, 47-43, with five consecutive points from Eddie Asamoah (Jr., Calgary, Canada).  However, St. Anselm would make of run of its own to extend the lead back to double digits, outscoring the Purple Knights 15-6 over a five minute span. Bridgeport would go on to trail by double digits for the rest of the ballgame, trailing by as many as 22, on their way to the 90-75 defeat. St. A's would finish the game shooting 58.7% (37-of-63) from the field and attempting 11 more free throws (16-to-5) than UB.

Ernest Rouse (Jr., Freeport, N.Y.) led the Purple Knights with 20 points for the night on 8-of-13 shooting from the field and knocking down four of his five three point attempts.

Newcomers, juniors Devon Elliott (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Bryce Elie (Queens, N.Y.) joined Rouse in double figures each tallying 12 points. Ellie also led the team in rebounds with six. Naqwan Crowell (Sr., Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) added eight points while adding four assists and four steals.

St. Anselm's Mike McCahey led all scorers on the night with 27 points.

UB will take on the second-ranked ranked Southern Connecticut State Owls team as they close out the NE-10 vs. ECC Basketball Challenge, game time set for 8:00 pm in the Harvey Hubbell Gymnasium. Bridgeport will then travel to American International College on Wednesday, November 19 with tip-off at 7:00 pm.