Men’s Basketball opens season with nonconference loss at Saint Vincent

LATROBE, Pa. --- Carlow University men's basketball opened the 2023-24 season with a 95-57 loss to Saint Vincent College on the road Wednesday.

Byron Gaskins poured in a career- and game-high 23 points to lead the Celtics. He shot 50 percent from the field and went 8 for 11 from the foul line.

Brevan Williams pulled down six rebounds and picked up two steals, while Gavin McLain tallied three of Carlow's four blocks in the effort.

The Bearcats sank nine treys, including seven in the first half alone.

Carlow started the game ahead, 4-3, but it was the teams' last lead, as the Bearcats gained a 10-4 advantage shortly after.

Saint Vincent doubled its lead to 24-12 with under 11 minutes remaining in the first half, and a three-pointer gave the Bearcats a 27-12 advantage.

Neither team would score for the next two minutes before Oscar Contreras broke the lull with a jumper at 8:35.

Saint Vincent strung together a 10-3 run over the course of the next three minutes to extend its lead to 20 points and maintained that advantage through the remainder of the half to take a 51-31 lead into halftime.

The Bearcats prevented the Celtics from scoring in the first three minutes of the second half, and outscored Carlow, 44-26, to secure the win.

Saint Vincent out-rebounded the Celtics, 46-30, and scored 32 points off 28 Carlow turnovers.

The Bearcats outscored the Celtics, 40-26, off the bench and 48-26 in the paint.

Carlow heads down Fifth Ave. to a tip-off tournament at Chatham University Nov. 10 and 11.