NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The Albertus Magnus College men's basketball team dropped its season opener, 71-64 to Swarthmore College on Saturday evening in The Nest.

Ta'zhon Daniels (New Haven, Conn.) led all Falcons with 15 points. Ray Ford, Jr. (Jersey City, N.J.)  scored 11 points. Isaiah Earl (Hamden, Conn. had eight points and nine rebounds and two blocks.

THE BASICS

FINAL: Swarthmore 71 | Albertus 64

RECORDS: Albertus (0-1) | Swarthmore (1-0)

BOX

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Just over seven minutes into the game, the Falcons jumped out to a 17-6 lead as six different players scored, including threes by Jayquan Kirkland (Stratford, Conn.) and Earl.
• The Garnets closed within six at 17-11, but the Falcons were able to extend their lead to double digits behind threes from Nathan Charlot and Ford, Jr. to take a 25-13 lead with 9:18 left in the half.
• Albertus took 28-13 lead after a three from Kirkland at the 6:54 mark.
• The Falcons led by as much as 31-15 in the first half before the Garnets gradually cut down the lead. Matthew Maloney scored five points for Swarthmore down the stretch as Albertus held a 36-28 lead at halftime.
• Swarthmore cut the Albertus to 36-33 less than two minutes into the second half  before four straight points by Daniels gave Albertus a 40-33 lead with 17 minutes left.
• Albertus was able to hold off rallies by Swarthmore early on in the second half as baskets by Ford, Jr., Earl and DJ Victory (New York, N.Y.) kept the Falcons ahead 52-47 with 12:03 left.
• A basket by Nyle Coleman and two free throws by Devin Burger gave Swarthmore its first lead of the second half at the 6:28 mark. The Garnets extended the lead to 63-59 before two free throws by Kirkland cut the Albertus deficit to 63-51 game. However a layup by Cal Hanson followed by a three from Eddie Paquette sealed the game for Swarthmore with 35 seconds left.

TEAM STATS

Albertus

35.9 FG% | 20.0 3PT% | 66.7 FT%

Swarthmore

45.6 FG% | 29.4 3PT% | 73.7 FT%

TOP PERFORMERS

Albertus

Ta'zhon Daniels 15 PTS | 6-6 FT | 5 Assists |

Ray Ford, Jr. 11 PTS | 3 REBS | 3 STLS

Isaiah Earl 8 PTS | 9 REBS | 2 BLKS

Swarthmore

Eddie Paquette 17 PTS | 2-4 3PT | 8 REBS

Devin Burger 11 PTS | 7 REBS | 2 ASTS

Caleb Aurelien 9 PTS | 10 REBS

NOTEWORTHY

Daniels now has 951 points in his career.

UP NEXT

The Falcons host Babson College on Tuesday, November 11th at 7 p.m. in The Nest in non-conference play.