BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Fredonia men's basketball team opened its season with an 85-77 road loss to D'Youville on Wednesday. Bediako Nyasa (Bronx, N.Y. / Walton) was one of three Devils to score in double digits, leading the way with 17 points. Cody Johnson (Cassadaga, N.Y. / Cassadage Valley) added 15 points, and Colden George (North Java, N.Y. / Attica) had 10. 

Johnson shot 7 of 12 from the field and had three blocked shots.

Kadeem Riddick (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Erasmus Hall Campus) and Messiah Hill (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Paul Robeson) each grabbed seven rebounds, and Matt Perez (Miami, Fla. / Florida Christian) had five assists and eight points.

Jer VanDuluitgaarden led D'Youville with 21 points and grabbed nine boards.

The game started with teams exchanging leads over the first two-and-a-half minutes. With Fredonia up 4-3, D'Youville would go on a 12-2 run to build a 15-6 lead at the 14:56 mark.

A three pointer by Fredonia's  George ended the run. The Devils would eventually tie the game at 21, on a three-point play by Johnson, who had seven points over that run.

The Spartans would quickly regain the lead, scoring the next 12 points. By the half, they would maintain a 44-35 lead.

The Devils would get no closer than seven points during the second half. De'Quan Smith (Rochester, N.Y. / Penfield) nailed a three pointer with 7:25 left to play to make it a 62-55 game. D'Youville scored the next six points to take back control of the game.

The Devils nailed 10 three pointers compared to seven by D'Youville. Nyasa and George combined to go 6 of 10 from beyond the arc.

The Spartans (2-1) held the biggest statistical edge at the foul line and on the boards. They went 24 of 33 from the line as Fredonia committed 27 fouls. The Devils were 5 of 13 while D'Youville committed 10 less fouls.  D'Youville had a 54-39 advantage on the boards.

Fredonia had the edge in assists (19 to 16) and steals (12 to 7), and had four fewer turnovers (17 to 21).

The Devils are back in Buffalo on Saturday when they take on Washington & Jefferson at Medaille at 2 p.m.