ASTON, Pa. – The Neumann University men's basketball team defeated Marywood University 77-76 on a last second free throw on Saturday afternoon in the Atlantic East Conference action opener.
 
Donte Dupriest led the Knights with a double-double, 24 points and 16 rebounds. Mike Smith, III tallied 15 points and handed out eight assists. TJ Lewis and Bryan Etienne each added 12 points.
 
The teams started the game trading baskets. With 12:56 on the clock, a Pacer three-pointer started a 23-4 run for a 39-22 Marywood lead. The 17-point advantage was the largest of the game. The Knights worked their way back to within eight, 44-36, as the teams headed into halftime.
 
As Marywood led by 12, 63-51, with 12:53 left, Neumann started to make its move. Over the next five minutes, the Knights chipped away at the deficit and at the 8:09 mark, two free throws by Lewis tied the game at 65. The teams would trade baskets and have three tied scores over the final minutes of regulation, including being tied at 76 with 2:10 left.
 
Each team had looks, but no one could get the ball to fall as the clock continued to run. The Pacers missed a shot with four seconds remaining. Etienne dribbled the ball down the court and was fouled with 1.1 ticks left. He made the first free throw for a 77-76 edge. He missed the second and the clock started. Marywood tried for a last second half-court basket but fell short and the Knights came away with the comeback 77-76 win.
 
Neumann (10-4, 1-0 Atlantic East) heads to Immaculata on Wednesday for more conference action beginning at 6:00 PM.