Pleasantville, N.Y.- The Terrence Stewart era is officially underway at Georgian Court University as the first-year head coach sent his Lions onto the hardwood at Pace University Friday evening in the nightcap of the Northeast-10/CACC Conference Challenge.

The host-Setters, also playing their first contest of the 2016-17 season, upended visiting GCU, 71-63. Adelphi University edged Felician University, 77-76, in the game prior to the Pace-Georgian Court showdown. The victorious Panthers and the Lions will face off Saturday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. on day two of the event.

Pace University (1-0) never trailed in the win as the Setters jumped out to a 24-11 advantage with 11:06 remaining in the first half. A Mike Pierre jumper at the 8:49 mark concluded an 8-0 GCU run, putting the Lions to within five points at 24-19. The home team would proceed to rally for a 14-6 spurt over the remaining minutes to rebuild its surplus to 13 (38-25) heading into intermission.

GCU (0-1) bared its collective teeth coming out of the locker room to win the second frame by a 38-33 mark. The Lions even sliced the deficit to five after a Keith Hughes three-pointer made the score 66-61 Pace with 55 ticks remaining in regulation, but to no avail.

The two teams registered almost identical marks from the floor as Georgian Court (24-54, 44.4%) edged the Setters (25-58, 43.1%). GCU's fate was sealed at the charity stripe as the Lions shot a paltry 7-for-16 (43.8%) from the free-throw line compared to 84.2% (16-for-19) for Pace.

In the box score it was Hughes that topped the Lions in the points column, collecting 16 for GCU over 36 minutes of action. Juwuan Carter (25 minutes) poured in 14 for Georgian Court while falling a rebound short (9) of an opening-night double-double. Hamilton Capellan buried a game-high three three-pointers in 19 minutes off the Lions' bench, finishing with 12 points overall.

Fans are invited to listen LIVE Saturday as Kyle Crooks calls all of the action between Adelphi and GCU on the Lions Sports Network.