PURCHASE, N.Y. – The Manhattanville College men's basketball team dropped a non-conference matchup at home Wednesday night, Dec. 4, to Wesleyan University by a score of 73-56. Sophomore guard Jake Dunn (Staten Island, N.Y./Monsignor Farrell) led the Valiants with 12 points on the night, while junior guard Mike Granda (Monroe Township, N.J./St. Joseph) followed just behind with 10 points.
 
The Crimson and White (3-2) stayed close with the Cardinals (4-2) in the early going thanks to a three-pointer from sophomore guard Matt Bielenda (Wethersfield, Conn./Xavier) at 12:38 to make it a one-point game at 12-11. However, Wesleyan stretched its lead from there out to 11 points at the half at 36-25. Dunn was 4-of-7 from the floor in the first and finished with nine points.
 
The second half was not much better for Manhattanville, as the Cardinals stretched their lead out to as many as 26 points, 68-42, with 6:07 remaining. Trailing now, the Valiant reserves made their way onto the floor and proceeded to breathe a little life into the Crimson and White's play. Beginning with a layup from rookie forward Khari Taylor (Bronx, N.Y./St. Raymond) at 5:49, the Valiants proceeded to go on a 14-2 run to trim the score back to 70-56 with 1:13 left.
 
Taylor's lay-in was followed by a pair of free throws from freshman guard Tommy Lotito (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's). Following a Cardinal basket, Taylor made another free throw and junior guard Wesley Kra (Queens, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy Memorial) pressed hard on defense to force a steal and fastbreak bucket at 3:25. Taylor followed with a steal and fastbreak layup of his own shortly thereafter. Sophomore guard Chris Maestre (Bronx, N.Y./Mount Saint Michael Academy) was next to score with a nice slicing lay-in at 2:01. Senior guard Cory Madden (Woodside, N.Y./Monsignor McClancy Memorial) punctuated the run with a three-pointer.
 
The Valiants will return to action this Saturday afternoon, Dec. 7, for a road contest in Brooklyn, N.Y., when they face the Bulldogs of Brooklyn College in a 3:15 p.m. tip. Manhattanville leads the all-time series 7-6, but the two programs have not met since 2014.