NEWPORT, R.I. – Suffolk men's basketball came back from a 14-point deficit to make things interesting, but could not complete the comeback as it fell to Salve Regina, 81-76, Saturday afternoon at the Rodgers Recreation Center.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 76 | Salve Regina 81
RECORDS: Suffolk (3-2) | Salve Regina (1-3)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
A back-and-forth opening saw a pair of tied scores and three changes that had Salve Regina ahead, 16-15, at the midway point of the first half.  

Out of a Suffolk time, the teams continued to go bucket-for-bucket until the Seahawks put together a 12-0 spurt to grab a 14-point, 39-25, advantage with just under five minutes remaining in the opening half.  

The Rams had to play catchup, but only managed to trim two points off the hosts cushion to head into the locker room down 12, 44-32.  

Suffolk had ground to make up and did just that out of the locker room as the Rams outscored the Seahawks, 14-6, 10 of which came from Nate Hale, over the first five minutes to pull within four, 50-46.  

From there it was shot-for-shot, which allowed Salve Regina to remain in front, 63-57, at the midway point of the second stanza.  

The margin grew back to double figures, 69-58, with 7:32 remaining and regulation and the Rams found themselves playing the catch-up game once again. This time Brendan Mulson took over for the blue-and-gold. The junior forward went shot-for-shot with the hosts himself to cut the deficit back to eight, 73-65, as he converted a traditional there-point play with just under five minutes to play.   

Max Bonney-Liles added a boast from the bench with the sophomore sinking a triple to make it a two-possession game with 3:51 left on the clock.

The outing would be decided at the charity stripe as each team was tested in the bonus. Salve Regina's lead proved to paid off in its favor as it clung to the edge down the stretch.  

INSIDE THE NUMBERES

• Mulson anchored a four-man scoring contingent with double figures with a 22-point effort on an 8-for-16 showing from the field. 
• Hale registered 18 points on a 6-for-10 performance from the floor and 4-for-6 outing from beyond-the-arc. 
• Both Mulson and Hale pulled down three boards apiece. 
• Duffy registered a 13-point, eight-assist, two-steal, two-carom outing. The majority of the senior's scoring came from the free throw line as he went 7-for-9. 
• George Grilliakis chipped in five points and led the way on the glass with five boards. 
• Collectively, Suffolk shot 48.1 percent (26-54) from the field, 45.8 percent (11-24) from downtown and 81.3 percent (13-16) at the charity stripe. 
• The Seahawks, who saw two players 20 players produced over 20 points, outrebounded the Rams, 27-22.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Hale made his first appearance in Suffolk's starting line-up.  

POST-GAME PIC
 

LOOKING AHEAD
Suffolk will be back in action in 10 days when it makes the short trip across the Boston Commons for a clash with Emerson Tuesday, Dec. 3. The Rams and Lions are scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. Beantown battle.