SCRANTON, Pa. – The No. 3-seeded Marymount University men's basketball team defeated No. 2-seed Marywood University in an Atlantic East Conference semifinals matchup on the road on Thursday, 71-64, advancing to the tournament championship game.

The teams played a back-and-forth first half, seeing 10 lead changes in the first 10 minutes of the game.

Back-to-back jumpers from sophomore Steve Etienne and junior Taiga Walker gave the Saints an 11-9 lead. Freshman Xavier Reaves knocked down a three-pointer to regain the lead, 20-17, for Marymount with 9:47 to play.

Junior Ryan Albert converted a jumper to give the Saints a 24-22 lead, but Marywood responded with a 19-10 run to close the half and take a 41-34 lead into the break.

The Pacers built their lead to as many as 11 points in the second half, as they held the advantage for the majority of the period. However, the Saints would not go away easily.

Trailing 56-47, senior Brandon Rogers drained a three, following two Albert foul shots to cut the lead to 56-52. The spurt began a 14-5 run for the Saints.

Etienne and Reaves took advantage in transition with two fast-break scores to get back to within two, before Rogers hit another three to tie the score 61-61 with 3:52 to play.

Reaves scored a three on the Saints' next possession to take the team's first lead of the second half, and the team would not give up the lead again.

Freshman Roey Stern hit a jumper, before Walker and junior Josh Giardina hit clutch free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.

Reaves led the way with a career-high 21 points in the game, to go with seven rebounds. Etienne led on the boards with nine rebounds, while adding a team-high three steals.

The Saints will now travel to top-seeded Gwynedd Mercy University for the Atlantic East title contest on Saturday, February 23; the opening tip is set for 2 p.m.