HAMBURG, N.Y. -- The Fredonia men's basketball team pulled within four points in the closing minutes, but wound up on the short side of a 72-64 decision to Mt. Union at the Hilbert Hawk Tip-Off Tournament on Friday. Four Devils were in double digits, and Fredonia shot seven of 10 from three point range, but it was not enough to overcome the Purple Raiders.

Nicc Johnson (Buffalo, N.Y. / St. Mary's of Lancaster) led the Devils with 13 points and Kareem Brown (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Brooklyn H.S. for Law & Tech) had 12. Ian Helps (Bronx, N.Y. / Greater New York Academy) and Brandon Hodge (Brentwood, N.Y. / Central Islip) had 10 apiece.

Mt. Union jumped out to an early 14-4 lead over the first five-and-a-half minutes. They would extend the lead to 12 after an Andrew Francesconi three pointer made it 19-7 at the 12:51 mark. 

The Devils then went on a 21-6 run over the next nine minutes to take their first lead of the game, 28-27, after a three pointer by Brown with 3:57 left in the half. Mt. Union closed the period with a three pointer and a jumper to carry a 32-28 lead into the break.

In the second half, Mt. Union would match its biggest lead of the game with 10:30 left to play when Francesconi nailed a jumper to make it 57-45.

After trading baskets, the Devils went on an 11-3 run to pull within four points, 62-58, at the 5:12 mark.

They would again trail by four late in the game. Brown converted a pair of free throws at the 2:14 mark to make it a 68-64 game.

The Raiders scored the final four points of the game going four of four from the free throw line. Fredonia failed to convert in its last five attempts.

Mt. Union had a 12-7 edge in three-point field goals made, and had a 10-9 advantage in free throws made. The Devils shot 43 percent from the floor compared to 39 percent for the Raiders. The rebound margin was also narrow, 42-40, in Mt. Union's favor. 

Brown and Dante Williams had six rebounds each to lead the Devils. Hodge added four assists and Helps had three blocked shots. Johnson made a trio of threes.

DeAllen Jackson led the Raiders in points (22), rebounds (seven) and assists (four).

Fredonia drops to 0-2. It was the season opener for Mt. Union.

The Devils take on the loser of the Hilbert-Cazenovia game from Friday evening. As of press time, the game was still in progress.