ONEONTA, N.Y. -  The W men's basketball team lost the consolation contest at the Michael Freilich Tournament – hosted by SUNY-Oneonta – to Elmira College, 64-54. The Owls fell to 0-3 on the season, while the Eagles improved to 2-2.
 
MUW went 0-2 in the Feilich Tournament, also losing to second place Westfield State on Saturday.
 
The W charged out of the blocks hard versus Elmira, building its largest lead of nine points, 19-10, thanks to a three-point basket by Jackson Reid. MUW still led by nine with 9:50 left in the first half after a Trent Walker layup made it 21-12.
 
But the Eagles would begin to claw back at that juncture. Elmira overtook MUW, 26-25, with 3:29 left until the intermission and finished the half on a 21-6 run, leading the Owls, 33-27.
 
Elmira held a single-digit lead the bulk of the second half. With 7:00 showing on the game clock, The W climbed to within a single point, 50-49, when Walker buried a three. But another spurt by the Eagles, in the form of a 15-4 run, dashed any hopes by MUW.
 
Chris Evans led MUW with 18 points, hitting 7-of-17 from the field. Evans was 4-for-11 from beyond the arc. He also pulled down five rebounds and made three steals.
 
Walker had a 5-for-9 day shooting from the field on his way to 12 points. Walker, too, had a good all-around game, snaring five boards, dishing three assists, making two steals, and blocking a pair of shots, as well.
 
Senior Dariun Doss and Reid, a junior, had seven and six points, respectively. Doss grabbed six rebounds, while Reid had four caroms.
 
James Dukes' seven rebounds topped MUW.
 
The W will play its first home game of the 2024-25 campaign on Tuesday (Nov. 19/6 p.m.) when it hosts Pensacola Christian College at Pohl Gym.