ASTON, Pa. – The Neumann University men's basketball team fell just short of its comeback, 81-79, on Wednesday evening to Gwynedd Mercy University in Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) action.
 
Prior to the game, the Knights honored its seniors: Tyaire Hudson, Billy Cassidy and Adam Robinson.
 
Raquan Brown-Johnson netted 25 points to lead Neumann, including four three-pointers. Aaron Johnson-Chavis notched a double-double with 19 points and 18 rebounds. The freshman also added three blocks. Hudson also tallied a double-double with 15 points and 10 assists.
 
The first five minutes of the game was equal and the teams were knotted at 12 with 14:13 on the clock. Gwynedd Mercy took the 12-12 tie and scored the next six points. A three-pointer by Brown-Johnson stopped the run and the team began to trade baskets again. The Griffins took a lead as large as nine, 34-25, with two minutes left in the first half. The Knights scored six straight point, four by Jordan Collins and two by Hudson, to get back to within three with 1:20 left on the clock. The Griffins would connect on two free throws just before halftime for the final points of the half for a 36-31 lead at the break.
 
Over the first part of the second half, Neumann would get within a point or two, but Gwynedd Mercy would answer before the Knights could get the key basket to take the lead. That was until Collins was fouled as hit made a layup. The Knights tied the score at 53 as he hit his free throw for the three point play. A dunk by Johnson-Chavis gave Neumann the slight lead. The teams would be tied at 58 with 8:31 left in regulation when the Griffins went on a 13-2 run over three minutes for a 71-60 lead. The Knights answered by scoring the next eight points for a 71-68 game with 3:29 remaining. A jumper by Brown-Johnson with 1:52 on the clock tied the game at 74.
 
A crazy sequence at the Griffins basket took place and after four missed baskets and offensive rebounds, Gwynedd Mercy was able to get a basket, plus a foul, to take back the lead. A minutes later, the Griffins went 1-for-2 from the line with 31 seconds on the clock for an 80-76 game. Brown-Johnson hit another one of his three-pointers for a one-point game, 80-79. Gwynedd Mercy would go to the line again, and miss both shots. Neumann came up the floor, but turned the ball over before getting a shot off. The Griffins went to the line again and went 1-for-2 with six seconds left. The Knights had the ball for the last shot to tie or hit a buzzer-beater, but they could not get the ball to fall in the basket and came up just short 81-79.
 
Neumann (17-7, 12-5 CSAC) will wrap up the regular season on Saturday when it travels to Cairn more CSAC action. Tip-off is slated for 3:00 PM.