Garden City, N.Y. - Matching points in the paint and an identical score at halftime was not enough on Saturday as Adelphi men's hoops dropped a narrow decision to Southern New Hampshire, 77-71 inside the Center for Recreation and Sports. 

Dayshaun Walton led all players with a new career-high total at 38, with the help of a perfect 14-foor-14 performance at the free throw line. He coupled his points with 11 rebounds for just his third double-double of the season, while landing an impressive 11-for-21 from the floor. The only other player in double-digit scoring was Artistotelis Sotiriou who came in off the bench for 11 points. 

The Panthers (10-14, 4-12 NE10) found themselves locked with the Penmen (14-7, 11-4 NE10) after the opening 20 minutes of action. The home team's largest lead of the contest was nearly seven minutes into the game when a Walton fast break led to a 10-6 score, but an 8-0 run for the other side quickly shifted momentum to give SNHU a four-point edge. 

Neither team scored in the closing 3:03 of the frame after Matt Becht drove to the basket - both teams attempted shots but nothing managed to fall to lead to the stalemate at the break. 

Coming out of halftime, it was all Penmen as they threw together a 10-2 stretch that put them in the drivers' seat for good. Adelphi managed to come within two on two different occasions, but SNHU led by at-most 12 at one point, when 7:07 was remaining in regulation. 

A comeback seemed reasonable for the hosts when Walton knocked down his final two free throws of the contest before a mscue turned jumper made it a one-posession game, but the free throw game was won out by the Penmen who turned it into a 77-71 victory. 

Men's basketball is back on its home court on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m. when they host top-ranked Bentley University. Earlier in the year, the Panthers suffered a three-point loss on a late foul call inside the Dana Center, 75-72.