Garden City, N.Y. - Despite high hopes entering the tournament as the no. 2 seed, the Adelphi University men's basketball program suffered its second loss in as many weeks to Saint Anselm on Sunday, 80-71 to officially end its run at a Northeast-10 Conference title in 2024. 

Another single-digit loss to the Hawks (16-14) this year removes the Panthers from crown contention for the eighth consecutive season. 

It was a slow start for both teams, with only 24 points scored in total by the 10-minute mark. Zac Taylor's three-pointer at 9:45 allowed Saint Anselm to hold on to its lead for the remainder of the first half.

Shots in the opening half were not falling for the Panthers as they traditionally do, as the crew was 1-for-17 from beyond the three-point arc. Only landing a triple was Matthew Price off the bench as he led the Cats in the frame with seven points, and the team broke for the locker room, trailing by six. 

Coming out of the break, Dayshaun Walton opened the Adelphi scoring with a three pointers that preceded a 10-4 run that put the home team back in the lead briefly. The teams traded baskets and kept the margin within no more than two possessions, until Tyler Arbuckle scored seven straight points for the visitors to lead by as many with 1:38 remaining in regulation. 

Already in the bonus, Adelphi was forced to put fouls up that sent the Hawks to the charity stripe four times in the final minute. While shooting from downtown improved in the second for the Panthers, they were out-worked in the paint as the visitors scored 36 to the hosts' 22. 

Walton had a team-leading 23 for the Cats while Elijah Lewis chipped in 16. 

The men's basketball program will await its fate for the NCAA tournament with the Division II Selection Show scheduled for 11:00 p.m. EST on Sunday, Mar. 10.