WEST HARTFORD, Conn. — Deivone Tanksley (Hartford, Conn.) posted a career-high 18 points, but it wasn't enough for the Albertus Magnus College men's basketball team dropped its first Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) game of the season to (GNAC) rival University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) on the road as the Blue Jays bested the Falcons, 100-86, on Saturday afternoon inside James A. Calhoun Gymnasium.

Tanksley was joined by a trio of Falcons with double-figures including a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds by Justice Washington (Hamden, Conn.), followed by 13 off the bench from Jeyson Slade (Stamford, Conn.) and 11 by Tazhon Daniels (New Haven, Conn.).

Antonio Bonilla (Tenafly, N.J.) netted a jumper to open the contest off a defensive board from Malcolm Duncanson (West Haven, Conn.) for Albertus's lone lead of the matchup and notched the only tie for the visitors off a jump shot from deep setup by Daniels to even the score at 13 apiece.

THE BASICS

FINAL: University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) 100 | Albertus Magnus 86

RECORDS: Albertus Magnus (18-4, 10-1 GNAC) | University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) (17-4, 10-0 GNAC)

BOX

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Albertus trailed early, 13-6, as Tyree Mitchell netted a pair of threes, drove for a layup and connected for a free throw in the opening four minutes. Mitchell followed Bonilla's two points with a three-pointer to put the home team up, 3-2, followed by a layup by the senior guard to keep the deficit within one.
• Kevin Crawford's (Bridgeport, Conn.) jump shot narrowed the Blue Jays' lead to five with 15:36 remaining in the half and ignited the Falcons' 7-0 run. Daniels stayed aggressive on the defense with a steal nine seconds later before being sent to the line for two made free throws. Similarly, Crawford forced a turnover to keep the ball in Albertus Magnus' hands before Daniels sent the ball to Bonilla for a three-pointer.
• Tanksley only put up two points in the first half before getting hot in the second fueled by back-to-back three-point jumpers to shorten the gap, 54-38. The sophomore posted six points before nabbing the offensive board off a free throw and putback for a layup with 7:52 remaining in regulation, 75-61.
• With under four minutes remaining in the game, Jayquan Kirkland (Stratford, Conn.) netted two straight buckets, with the first coming off an offensive rebound sparking a 16-5 Falcons run. Tanksley and Washington pounded down two dunks and Jarrell Petteway (Windsor, Conn.) drilled a deep three to cap off the run to narrow the hosts' lead by eight with 27.2 left on the clock.

TEAM STATS

Albertus: 39.5 FG% | 28.6 3PT% | 75.0 FT%

University of Saint Joseph (Conn.): 48.4 FG% | 45.8 3PT% | 64.4 FT% 

INDIVIDUAL PERFORMERS

Albertus 

Deivone Tanksley 18 Points | 9 Rebounds | 2 Steals

Jeyson Slade 13 Points | 3 Rebounds | 6 Assists | 2 Steals 

Justice Washington 11 Points | 11 Rebounds | 1 Assist | 2 Blocks

University of Saint Joseph (Conn.)

Tyree Mitchell 26 Points | 9 Rebounds | 4 Assists

Lence Atlenor 24 Points | 6 Rebounds | 3 Assists

NOTEWORTHY

• Washington has recorded 15 double-doubles this season, including the last five contests, and is 44 points away from 1,000 career points.
• Albertus is now 3-8 all-time against Saint Joseph's (Conn.).

UP NEXT

The Falcons return home to host GNAC foe Anna Maria College on Wednesday with a 7:30 p.m. tip-off in The Nest.