ASTON, Pa.  – The Neumann University Men's Basketball team defeated Eastern University in a non-conference game on Tuesday night by a final score of 83-69.
 
Neumann got things started with an early 4-3 lead but Eastern went on a 9-3 stretch to grab advantage, 12-7 with 6:03 left in the first. After the Knights evened the game at 12, the Eagles again took command with a 9-2 run. Every time Neumann came back, Eastern had an answer. At the halfway point of the half, Neumann got within one with an 11-5 run but Eastern again came back. They held the lead until a Gary Francis three-point play with six seconds left, tied the game up at 36.
 
The team battled back and forth throughout the early part of the second half before Neumann took their first lead since 4-3 with 14:25 left in regulation. Neumann extended the lead to as high as five point but the game was equalized at 61 with 7:56 left. The Knights took the lead for good thanks to a 9-2 run over the next 1:50. Neumann scored 11 of the last 13 points to pull away.
 
Mike Smith, III led Neumann with 17 points and seven assists. TJ Lewis had 14 points and five assists while Bryan Etienne had 12 points, seven rebounds, and five steals. DJ Earl and Francis also figured with double-digit points, nabbing 13 and 11 points respectively.
 
Neumann (7-3) will be back in action on Thursday when they host Franklin and Marshall College for a 7:00 PM start.