WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – Suffolk men's basketball was handed its first GNAC loss of the year, as Saint Joseph (Conn.) bested the Rams, 99-83, Tuesday night at the O'Connell Center. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 83 | Saint Joseph (Conn.) 99
RECORDS: Suffolk (9-7, 1-1 GNAC) | Saint Joseph (Conn.) (14-2, 1-1 GNAC)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
At the first media timeout Suffolk trailed by just three, 9-6, as the teams traded hoops over the opening four minutes. Thomas Duffy was responsible for a pair of hoops for four points, while Brendan Mulson put in the other two.  

A handful of minutes later, Mulson connected on layup to slice the gap back to five, 13-8. Suffolk went on scoreless spurts from there though, which allowed the Blue Jays to build a 14-point advantage at the midway point that doubled to 27, 55-28, at the half.  

Triples from Jonathan Eng and Duffy sandwiched a USJ layup out of the locker room to start what could be a Rams comeback. Instead the hosts had a response for every blue-and-gold hoop to keep the visitors at a 20-plus point distance the rest of the way.  

The margin grew to as many as 32 with just over five minutes to play.  Suffolk managed to cut things down to 16, but there was not enough time remaining and the game ended in USJ's favor, 99-83

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Nate Hale had 17 points, shooting 7-for-13 from the field, including a 50-percent (3-6) showing from three-point range. The Rams reserve grabbed two rebounds and added one block and steal, respectively. 
• Duffy contributed 14 points behind a 6-for-11 effort from the floor to go along with five caroms, four helpers and six takeaways. 
• Max Bonney-Liles registered 14 points, going 5-for-9 from the floor and 4-for-7 from behind-the-arc with two assists and one carom to his credit. 
• Mulson chipped in nine points, four rebounds, one assist and one steal.  
• Suffolk shot 49.2 percent (31-63) on the day compared to the Blue Jays' 67.7 connection rate (42-62). 
• The Rams outrebounded USJ, 30-28. 
• Suffolk capitalized on its second chances, during its 13 offensive rebounds into 22 points. 
• The Rams reserves supplied 49.3 percent (41) of Suffolk's scoring.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk met USJ in Connecticut for the first time in program history. 
• Duffy recorded a career-high six steals. 
• Hale matched a personal-best seven field goals made.  

POST-GAME PIC
  

WHAT'S TO COME?
In the midst of its road swing, Suffolk heads to Lasell Saturday, Jan. Jan. 25 for a 3 p.m. tip-off.