The Neumann University men's basketball team fell in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to No. 19 the University of Mount Union 87-59 on Friday evening.

Denzel Yard (jr. Philadelphia, Pa. / Franklin Learning Center) led the Knights with 11 points. James Butler (so. Philadelphia, Pa. / Vaux) added 10 points. Andrew Moye (fr. Philadelphia, Pa. / Simon Gratz) notched a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.  Nine of the Knights' 10 players recorded at least two points in the game.

It was battle from the beginning as the Purple Raiders connected on a three for the first basket of the game. It was Mount Union's first of 15 three's in the game. The Purple Raiders quickly built their lead to seven, 13-6, 3:45 into the game. The Knights would get back to within two, 19-17, four minutes later. Mount Union kept the pressure on and built a double-digit advantage, 35-25, with six minutes left in the first. The Purple Raiders held a 47-35 lead into halftime.

As much as Neumann fought to stay in the game, Mount Union would not relinquish its double-figure lead throughout the second half and continue to steadily build its lead. After Butler scored the first bucket of the second half, the closest the Knights would get was 11, 57-46, on a three-pointer by Yard.

The Knights continued to play hard until the final buzzer, but it was not enough against the Purple Raiders.