New Haven, Conn. - Despite a season-high 18 points from senior Damian Grant (Waterbury, Conn.), the No. 19 Albertus Magnus College men's basketball team fell at home to in-state foe the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.), 98-79, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) showdown Wednesday evening at "The Nest" located inside the Cosgrove Marcus Messer Athletic Center.

THE BASICS
Final: Saint Joseph (Conn.) 98 | No. 19 Albertus Magnus 79
Records: Albertus Magnus (14-3, 3-1 GNAC) | St. Joseph (Conn.) (16-2, 4-0 GNAC)
Box Score

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Blue Jays started the game by scoring 14 of the first 17 points, with a Tyreek Perkins (New Haven, Conn.) deep 3-pointer standing as the Falcons' lone bucket. USJ missed just three shots over the first 4:14 to build the double-digit advantage.

Albertus did not stay down long, however, as it went on a 13-2 run over the next three-plus minutes to tie the game at 16-16 with 11:55 left in the first half. Senior Damian Grant (Waterbury, Conn.) helped spark the run with six of the 13 points.

The Blue Jays continued to keeping the deficit to around 10 points for the next five-plus minutes. The Falcons cut it to six, 32-26, with 3:56 left in the half following a trey from Davon Warner (New Haven, Conn.). Warner hit three triples in the first half to finish with a team-high nine points.

Following a last-second 3-pointer from St. Joseph, the Blue Jays took a 41-30 advantage into the halftime break.

The Blue Jays widened their lead to 48-30 to start the second half, going on a 7-0 run over the first 1:39. After this initial run, the Falcons would get as close as 13 points, 55-42, following a Grant lay-up with 13:43 left in the game.

The story of the second half was an influx of foul calls called on both teams, as there were a combined 38 personal fouls called. USJ took a whopping 30 foul shots in the half, while Albertus had 22 attempts.

Perkins led the way for the Falcons with 22 points on 6-for-9 shooting from the floor and a perfect 8-for-8 mark from the free-throw line. Grant finished the evening with 18 points on 5-for-6 shooting and an 8-for-10 mark from the line.

TEAM STATS

• Albertus: 40.4% FG | 42.9% 3PT | 71.1% FT
• Saint Joseph's (Conn.): 50.8% FG | 25.0% 3PT | 75% FT
• This game saw one tie and two lead changes.
• Albertus scored 18 of its points off turnovers. 
• The Falcons' bench scored a total of 41 points. 

KEY PERFORMERS
Albertus: 

• Jahmerikah Green-Younger (Norwalk, Conn.) - 14 points (5-12 FG, 0-2 3PT, 4-5 FT) |1 rebound
• Tyreek Perkins - 22 points (6-9 FG, 2-3 3PT, 8-8 FT) | 1 rebound | 3 assists | 3 steals
• Damian Grant -18 points (5-6 FG,  8-10 FT) | 8 rebounds | 3 blocks 
• Davon Warner -13 points (4-10 FG, 4-7 3PT, 1-3 FT) | 5 rebounds | 1 assist | 2 steals

St. Joseph's (Conn.): 

• Jordan Powell - 22 points (10-10FG, 2-3 FT) | 10 rebounds | 1 assist | 1 steal
• Ryan O'Neill - 15 points (5-12 FG, 0-6 3PT, 5-7 FT) | 4 rebounds | 1 assist | 1 steal 
• Delshawn Jackson Jr. -36 points (10-20 FG, 3-5 3PT) | 4 rebounds | 1 assist
• Jaecee Martin-16 points (4-9 FG, 8-9 FT) | 8 rebounds | 6 assists | 2 steals 

DOUBLE-DOUBLES

• Albertus: None
• St. Joseph's (Conn.): Jordan Powell (22 points, 10 rebounds) 

NOTEWORTHY 

• This is the third meeting all-time between the two teams. 
• The Falcons are now 2-1 all-time against St. Joseph's (Conn.).  
• The Falcons are now 8-1 at home this season. 
• Perkins shot 100% from the free throw line (8-for-8). 
• Along with Grant, senior Liam Perryman (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) registered a team-high three blocks.
• Perkins recorded his second straight 20-point performance and fourth overall of the season. 

UP NEXT 
The Falcons travel to Medford, Mass. on Saturday, Feb. 1 for a conference battle with Suffolk University. Tip-off is set for 7 PM in Medford, Mass.