Garden City, N.Y. (January 8) -- Paced by three players in double figures, the Saint Anselm men's basketball team improved to 11-2 overall and 7-2 in the league with a 71-67 victory at Adephi on Saturday afternoon. The Hawks are receiving votes in this week's NABC Division II National Poll.

The two teams started out even through the first eight minutes as the Panthers held an 18-16 edge with 11:57 left. Behind five points each by freshman Dominic Borelli (Westbrook, Maine) and senior Thomas Baudinet (Watertown, Conn.), the Hawks put up a 10-0 run and jumped to the 26-18 lead. After pushing the advantage into double digits, Panthers rallied and were within 41-37 after a pair of free throws from Richard Byrd with 8.8 seconds left. Saint Anselm closed the half on a pullup jumper by freshman Allen Harris (Roslindale, Mass.) with three seconds left though for the 43-37 Hawk lead at the break. Three Hawks were in double figures in the first half alone, led by 12 points from Jack Keough (Owego, N.Y.).

Adelphi quickly tied the game at 43-43 behind four quick points by Byrd and took the lead at 50-48 after a layup by Norron McDonald. Over the next six minutes, the lead changed hands five times and the Hawks led 58-55 with 9:07 left after a turnaround jumper by Harris.

The Panthers pulled to within one at 64-63 after Richard Harkins was fouled taking a three-pointer and hit two of three free throws. Baudinet stepped up though with a runner off the glass and a pullup as the shot clock was about to expire to push the lead back to five at 68-63 with under a minute remaining. With the Hawks leading 69-64 with under 10 seconds remaining, John Calarco scored his first basket of the game with a clutch three-pointer with 6.8 left. Baudinet was fouled on the ensuing possession, hitting both free throws to seal the win.

Harris led the Hawks with 22 points, along with 18 points for Baudinet and a 12-point, 15-rebound double-double for Keough. Baudinet jumps into eighth place on the Saint Anselm career scoring list with 1,645 points.

Three Panthers were in double figures, led by 20 points from Byrd as Adelphi falls to 9-4 overall and 5-4 in Northeast-10 play.

Saint Anselm is back in action on Tuesday, January 11th as the Hawks host Pace University for a 7:30 p.m. start at Stoutenburgh Gym. The game is available live online at www.SaintAnselmHawks.tv.