SALISBURY, Md. – The Marymount (Va.) University men's basketball team dropped a tight battle on the Eastern Shore on Wednesday night to Salisbury University, 72-65, to close out the first half of Capital Athletic Conference play. 

Although the Sea Gulls dropped in the first basket of the game, the Saints claimed the early momentum with nine-straight points. Sophomore Dimitri Rucker hit the initial layup before senior Danny Ferry knocked in his first three-pointer of the night on the right wing. Sophomore D'Ondre Stockman, who led scoring through the first half with eight points, finished off the run with two strong drives down the lane for the finish and the 9-3 advantage. 

The Gulls managed to find some offense down the stretch, as most of the half remained close. With seven minutes remaining until the half, SU reclaimed the lead, 19-17, but it wouldn't last long. The Saints used the next four minutes to piece together a 10-point run led by senior Rick Narcisse, who dropped in seven of the points off a layup, a three pointer and two free throws. 

Through the final three minutes of the half, Salisbury knocked in three points to cut the deficit, but Marymount still carried a six-point advantage into the locker room, 28-22. 

Salisbury opened up the second half with a long ball and jumper to get within one of the Saints, but Stockman took over with six points of his own off a layup and three free throws to push the MU lead back to six, 33-27. 

Marymount continued to spread the score out, reaching its first double-digit lead at the 15:47 mark following two free throws by Narcisse. The Gulls didn't go away though, chipping away at the Saints' lead over the next four minutes to take its first lead since the middle of the first half with 11 minutes remaining in regulation, 47-46. 

Salisbury held onto the advantage, but remained in striking distance for MU for the rest of the game, grabbing the lead one last time with six minutes left off free throws by Stockman. 

In the closing minutes, the Saints sent the Gulls to the line hoping for the opportunity to send the game to overtime, but SU went 4-for-4 to seal up the 72-65 win. 

Stockman paced the Saints' offense with 19 points, behind 11-for-12 from the charity stripe. Rucker led the defensive front with a team-high seven rebounds and game-high two blocks. 

The men open up the second half of conference play with St. Mary's College of Maryland. Due to weather conditions approaching the East coast, the game date and time will be announced as the information becomes available.