GWYNEDD VALLEY, Pa. – The Neumann University men's basketball team finally opened Atlantic East Conference action with a 67-52 win at Gwynedd Mercy University on Wednesday evening.
 
Jalen Vaughns led the Knights with 19 points. TJ Lewis netted 16 points. Tony James had a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds while also dishing out five assists.
 
The Griffins opened the game scoring the first seven points. A free throw by James pulled the Knights to within one, 10-9. The only lead change of the game came on a layup by Justin Smith midway through the first half, putting Neumann up 14-13. The Knights would lead by as many as seven in the first half and took a 22-17 lead into the locker room.
 
After Gwynedd Mercy scored the first basket of the second half, Neumann netted the next six points to take a nine-point advantage, 28-19. The Griffins answered and pulled back to within two, 30-28, with 14 minutes left in regulation. Another layup by Smith started a 10-2 run for the Knights to extend its lead to double-digits, 40-30. Gwynedd Mercy got back to within five midway through the half before Neumann built back a double-figure lead, which it would hold for most of the rest of regulation. Diby Keita scored the final basket of the contest for the 67-52 win.
 
Neumann (9-5, 1-0 Atlantic East) will head to Marywood on Saturday for an Atlantic East match-up beginning at 3:00 PM.