BUFFALO, NY - The Franciscan University men's basketball team lost a heartbreaker to division rival D'Youville College with a final score of 68-65. The Barons lost a one point lead with one minute left in the game, then the Spartans scored a final field goal to seal the Barons defeat.

"We had the ball at the end of the game," head coach John Lamanna said. "We couldn't get a shot off and ended up turning it over."

Outside of the final minute, the Barons finally played the way Coach Lamanna has been hoping they would all season; consistently on both offensively and defensively.

"We need to stay consistent offensively and get our defense going," Lamanna said after their loss to Pitt.-Greensburg on December 5. "It's a process to play a complete game."

The process was internalized and demonstrated by Lamanna's young players against the Spartans. Not only did the defense force 15 turnovers, but it also held the Spartans to 68 points, their lowest point total of the season.

The Barons also found success from two of their first year players, Christian Duke and Joseph Rine. Both recorded a double double with Duke totalling 18 points and 10 rebounds and Rine totalling 14 points and 20 rebounds. Rine capped his performance with a two handed dunk in the final moments of the game.

"They are both really responding and growing as players," Lamanna said.

The Barons had four first year players record over 30 minutes.

"We are really starting to put it together," Lamanna said. "We need to stay positive and I'm very proud of our effort. Our guys left it all on the court today"

The Barons look to take some hard lessons from this game and turn it into wins in similar situations. This was the first time this season they've had the lead with a minute left in a game.

"It's a matter of learning and growing from these experiences so that we have the right responses next time," Lamanna said.

The Barons will start to prepare for their game against the Ohio University Eastern Panthers on Dec. 17 at 8 pm.