ST. DAVIDS, Pa. — A bad stretch to close the first half proved to be too much to overcome as Eastern University Men's Basketball (3-8, 0-1) dropped an 86-69 decision to the 23rd-ranked visiting York College Spartans in the MAC Commonwealth opener for both teams. The Spartans (11-1, 1-0) hit 9-of-12 shots in a 23-to-6 run over the final eight-and-a-half minutes of the first half.

After trailing 46-27 at half, the Eagles closed the gap to 61-51 midway through the second half, but the Spartans hit 3-pointers on either side of a DaRon Sherman floater to build the lead back to 14. Sherman finished with 15 points, five rebounds, and five steals and made a pair of 3-pointers in the game, but it was not enough to overcome the long-range onslaught from the visitors.

York made 9-of-18 from deep in the first half and 14-of-31 for the game. Tate Landis and Cooper Haberem each made four 3-pointers in the first half. Haberem made six long-range efforts in the game and finished with 18 points. Landis posted a season-high 24 points on 8-of-13 from the floor.

The Eagles started well and led 13-12 on a tough lay-up from Mason Lewis. Simon Dlugi started an 8-to-0 run with a put-back basket. Down 21-12, Eastern responded with a pair of Olise Onyeka foul shots, and a tough inside basket and a step-back 3-pointer from Sherman. After the two teams traded inside baskets, York started the decisive run of the game. As the run continued, the 3-pointers came from deeper and deeper spots on the floor. Eastern's troubles were exacerbated by their inability to corral long rebounds. At the half, York had a 20-to-10 edge in rebounds and a 15-to-4 edge in second chance points.

In the second half, the Eagles did much better on the glass and attacked the rim. York had only three offensive rebounds in the second half, and the Eagles got 18 foul shots after the break.

Even with the increased energy on the glass and more effective close-outs on shooters, the Eagles made a run, but York's advantage behind the arc proved to be too much to overcome. Mason Lewis made Eastern's only two long-range efforts after the break. York went only 5-of-13, but the two critical makes stopped Eastern's advance and helped to secure the win for the defending MAC Commonwealth Champions.

Lewis had 14 points, Onyeka added 13 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks, and Dujuan Taylor added 13 points and 8 rebounds.

Eastern will take on Albright this Saturday. The Lions lost their league-opener, 114-95, to Hood College. The Lions made 15-of-40 from deep in the loss while Hood made only 7-of-24 3-pointers in that game.