NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Despite double-digit performances from Terry Dawkins (Bronx, N.Y.), Tyreek Perkins (New Haven, Conn.), and Davon Warner (New Haven, Conn.), the Albertus Magnus College men's basketball team suffered an 83-81 loss to the Panthers of Middlebury College on Thursday evening at "The Nest" inside the Cosgrove Marcus Messer Athletic Center.

THE BASICS
Final: Middlebury 83 | Albertus Magnus 81
Records: Albertus Magnus (2-1) | Middlebury (6-2)
Box Score

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Panthers struck first on a made lay-up from Alex Sobel. The Falcons responded with an 8-0 run over the next two minutes, with Dawkins putting an easy lay-up in for a two-point score and Perkins hitting back-to-back 3-pointers. The Panthers battled back, taking advantage of a couple of Albertus fouls and sinking five-straight free throws to pull within one, 8-7, with 15:19 remaining in the first. The Falcons responded with a quick 6-2 run that saw them pull ahead 14-9 with just under 13 minutes to play in the first half. The Panthers put together a short 4-1 surge to get within two, 15-13, with just under 12 minutes left in the half. The teams traded shots for the next two minutes, pushing the score to 19-17, before the Panthers went on a 4-1 run to regain their lead, 21-20.

A Panthers' 3-pointer from Jackson Pitcher was immediately countered by a long trey from point guard Rob Tindley (Lawnside, N.J.) to make it a one-point game, 24-23, at the 7:43 mark. Middlebury responded with a 7-2 run to push the score to 31-25 with just under five minutes remaining in the first half. However, the Falcons were not deterred, roaring back with an 8-4 run to make it a one-point game, 35-34, with two minutes remaining in the half, as Tindley contributed six points on a 3-pointer, a lay-up, and a made free throw. The teams traded baskets for the remainder of the half, with the Panthers holding a slim lead heading into the final thirty seconds of the stanza.

The Falcons were unphased, streaking up the court with seconds left before Qualon Wilkes (Bridgeport, Conn.) fed the perfect pass to Warner, who was waiting uncovered on the right wing. The senior guard let the shot fly as the buzzer sounded, swishing the long trey and sending the teams into the half tied at 39 apiece.

Middlebury pounced out of the break, going on a quick 9-2 run, with Dawkins sinking both shots for the Falcons on free-throw attempts. However, the blue-and-white stymied the Panthers' attack, with Dawkins putting in another lay-up. Perkins followed soon after with a 3-point jumper to bring the hosts' within five, 51-46, with just under 15 minutes remaining in regulation. The teams battled back-and-forth for the next six minutes, with neither able to put any distance between their opponent and leaving it a six-point game, 57-49, heading into the final 10 minutes.

The two teams traded shots for the next two minutes, with the Panthers going up by 10, 64-54. Perkins and Warner quickly combined for a 4-0 run to cut the deficit to six, 64-58, with just under six minutes remaining in the game. The Panthers surged ahead with a 7-2 run to take a 71-60 lead into the final four minutes of play.

The Falcons roared back into the game with a 10-3 run, as Robby Simmons (Hartford, Conn.) made a slam dunk, Dawkins put in a lay-up, and Jacqual Gertrude (Jersey City, N.J.) made back-to-back 3-pointers. The Falcons' offense went to work down by five in the final minute. Simmons was fouled on a shot attempt and drained both of his free throws, before stealing a Panthers' inbound attempt and putting it through the net for a quick lay-up to make it a one-point game, 75-74. Middlebury responded with a 4-0 run to push the score to 79-74 before Warner let loose and popped another trey to make it a two-point game, 79-77, with 10 seconds remaining. Despite four points from Wilkes in the final seconds of the game, the Falcons could not overcome the Panthers, falling by a final score of 83-81.

TEAM STATS
Albertus: 39.7% FG | 34.6% 3PT | 66.7% FT
Middlebury: 49% FG | 38.5% 3PT | 70% FT

KEY PERFORMERS
Albertus:
Terry Dawkins - 13 points (4-10 FG, 0-1 3pt, 5-8 FT) | 2 assists | 1 rebound | 1 steal 
Tyreek Perkins - 12 points (4-15 FG, 3-7 3PT, 1-2 FT) | 9 rebounds | 2 assists
Davon Warner - 10 points (4-10 FG, 2-8 3PT) | 2 rebounds | 1 assist | 1 steal

Middlebury:
Sam Stevens - 27 points (8-15 FG, 4-7 3pt, 7-9 FT) | 7 rebounds | 2 assists | 2 blocks
Alex Sobel - 15 points (5-6 FG, 5-6 FT) | 13 rebounds | 3 assist | 5 blocks
Noah Osher - 12 points (3-12 FG, 0-4 3PT, 6-6 FT) | 2 rebounds | 3 assists

NOTEWORTHY

• This is the fifth all-time meeting between the two programs.
• Middlebury is 5-0 all-time against the Falcons after tonight's win.
• Albertus' 16 assists and 12 steals are a season-high for the team.
• The Falcons posted a season-low nine turnovers, compared to the Panthers, who had 21.
• Dawkins tied his season-high in points with 13.
• Both Dawkins and Perkins have scored in double-figures for Albertus in all three games this season.

UP NEXT
The men's basketball team returns to the court on Saturday, Dec. 4, as the Falcons open Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play with a road showdown against Saint Joseph's College of Maine. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. in Standish, Maine.