YORK, Pa. – The Marymount (Va.) University men's basketball team tipped off the New Year in a winning manner on Wednesday night, getting back into Capital Athletic Conference play for a 70-64 victory over York College of Pennsylvania. 

In a tight matchup with 11 ties and six lead changes, the Saints put together a strong second half, 39-29, to overtake the Spartans and register their fourth CAC win of the season. 

Behind a game-high 19 points by junior Dimitri Rucker, Marymount quickly erased its four-point halftime deficit roughly four minutes into the second half. In a two-series stretch, sophomore Brandon Rogers, who finished with eight points for the day, dropped in two free throws and cashed in on a long ball to draw the game even at 39-39. 

York rattled in another layup to take the lead for its final time, but two inside finishes by senior Michael Anderson and freshman Xavier Adams pushed the Saints back ahead where they'd stay for the remainder of the contest. 

By the 7:43 mark, Marymount built up to an eight-point advantage, its largest of the game, off an 8-0 run by the freshmen crew. Adams kicked off the run with a free throw before freshman Taiga Walker dropped in two of his own and a layup. Freshman Ibrahim Kamara rounded out the stretch with a long ball from senior Pat Dumais to put MU up 53-45. 

The Spartans got as close as two points in the closing seconds, but 4-for-6 at the charity stripe by Anderson and Walker sealed up the game, while YCP turned the ball over twice. 

Led by Rucker's 19 points, Walker and Anderson also notched double-figure scoring nights with 12 and 10, respectively. Rucker also commanded the boards, registering 11 rebounds to tally his second-straight double-double. As a team, the Saints shot 45.7 percent from the floor. 

The men are back in action this weekend, returning to the Verizon Sports Arena for another league tilt. The Saints will take on No. 6 Christopher Newport University at 3 p.m.