HADDONFIELD, N.J. – No. 4 Neumann advanced to the Atlantic East Conference Men's Basketball semifinals following a 80-60 win against #5 Marywood in the first round of the tournament.

The Knights put on an strong first half performance, scoring 44 points to take a 12 point lead into the half, a margin that would prove to be too large for Marywood. The Pacers scored 34 points in the second half, but were still outscored by the Knights who took home the win. Neumann's Donte Dupriest scored 19 points and pulled down 13 rebounds for a double-double, while fellow Knights Jayson Love and Bryan Etienne put up 20 and 19 points a piece, respectively.

Neumann advances to the Atlantic East Semifinals and will travel to top seed Marymount on Thursday, February 26. The other semifinal will feature No. 3 Centenary traveling to No. 2 Gwynedd Mercy. The winners will advance to the conference championship on Saturday, Febnruary 28, at the highest remaining seed. The conference champion will earn the conference’s automatic qualifier into the 2026 NCAA DIII Men's Basketball Championship. 

---

#5 Marywood 66, #4 Neumann 84 | BOX SCORE
Recap to courtesy of Neumann Sport Information Department

ASTON, Pa. – The Neumann University Men's Basketball team defeated Marywood University in the First Round of the Atlantic East Tournament on Tuesday night by a final score of 84-66.
 
Jayson Love led the Knights with 20 points while Bryan Etienne had 19. Donte Dupriest added 19 points and 13 rebounds for a double-double. Izaiah Johnson Young-El contributed 13 points.
 
The Knights got off to a fast start with a 7-2 lead after 2:10. Marywood followed right back with a 6-0 run for an 8-7 lead just 80 seconds later. This was the trend early on. Every time a team would go on a run, the other would respond. Neumann would pull ahead at 20-13 with 11:25 left in the half and the Pacers would score nine of the next 11 points, pulling even at 22. With seven minutes left, the Knights trailed 29-26 but they dominated the rest if the half with an 18-3 run for a 44-32 halftime edge.
 
Neumann raced out to an 11-4 run over the first five minutes of the second half for a 19-point lead. The Pacers did not give up as they scored 13 of 18 to get within 11, but they didn't threaten again as a 13-3 push iced the game.
 
With tonight's win, Neumann (17-9) advances to the Atlantic East Tournament semifinals against top-seeded Marymount University on Thursday. Tip-off from Arlington, Va. is scheduled for 8:00 PM.

---