WASHINGTON - It was an intense United East conference opener for both men's basketball teams here Tuesday night in the Field House as the Bison from Gallaudet University locked up with the Seahawks from St. Mary's College of Maryland.

In the end, St, Mary's escaped with an 81-73 victory over the Bison but GU did not go easily.

Gallaudet (0-6, 0-1 United East) cut the St. Mary's lead down to two points, twice, in the second half. GU pulled to within 49-47 thanks to a 10-2 run early on in the second half. Minutes later, a 3-pointer by Jory Valencia (Riverside, Calif.) got the Bison back to within two points, 54-52, midway through the second.

The Bison hung around and fought with the Seahawks for the final 10 minutes of play. St. Mary's (3-3, 1-0 United East) eventually pulled away in the closing minutes but things remained heated between the two squads. 

Gallaudet had five players in double figures. Senior forward Blessed Mbogo (Silver Spring, Md.) finished with a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds to go with three assists, two steals and one block. Senior center Brandon Chung (Kahukui, Hawaii) and Valencia (seven rebounds, three steals) added 13 points each. The pair of first-year guards Alex Ortman (Norway, Mich.) and Nabhi Abbushi Jr. (Fairfield, Calif.) tallied 11 points each. 

St. Mary's had four of its five starters in double figures along with one bench player. First-year guard Tjay Beckles led the way with 23 points with 12 coming from 3-pointers (four made). Yassine Idrissa (five blocks) and Kyree Smith (seven assists) finished with 17 points each. Sophomore guard James Lerner (14 points) and James Crimaudo (10 points) were the other Seahawks in double figures.

The two teams shot 45 percent or better from the field. GU scored 42 points in the paint and 20 points came on second-chance opportunities.

This was the second time in 10 days that Gallaudet and St. Mary's faced each on the court. The two teams played back on Nov. 16 in the consolation game of the Battle of D.C. & Maryland. The Seahawks won that meeting, 80-62.

Before the game, Gallaudet's men's basketball program paid tribute to the late John C. Perry as the Bison took a group photo with the living members of the Perry family. A new bench out in front of the Field House has been installed in John Perry's name. During halftime, Stephen DaSilva (former coach with Perry) signed to the crowd about his memories of John and John's father (Bill Perry) talked to the crowd about his son before a photo slideshow wrapped up the event.

UP NEXT
GU will take another trip across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to Maryland's Eastern Shore to face Salisbury University (4-2) this Saturday, Nov. 30, for a 5 p.m. non-conference game. This will be Gallaudet's third trip to the Eastern Shore to begin the season.