Colchester, Vt. - Outscoring Georgian Court University by a modest 30-19 margin over the final 17:00 of regulation time, Saint Michael's College was able to turn a one-point deficit into a 10-point surplus as the Purple Knights downed the Lions, 65-55, Sunday to conclude the Delta Hotel Doc Jacobs Tip-off Classic.

Owning a four-point lead with 1:09 left in the first half, GCU (0-2) was unable to stand in the way of an 8-0 surge by SMC, providing the home team a 33-29 cushion heading into the break. In a second stanza that witnessed four lead changes, the Lions owned what would be their final lead of the afternoon at the 18:00-mark when a pair of Davon Floyd free throws put the royal-and-blue ahead by one (36-35). 

Saint Michael's (2-0) immediately answered with yet another 8-0 run as the Purple Knights established a 43-36 advantage with 15:04 to go. A Shane Williams jumper capped a 14-8 spurt by the road team, putting GCU to within one point (51-50) with 7:29 on the clock. The Lions would get no closer in the contest as SMU secured the win by outscoring its guest, 14-5, over the remainder of regulation.

Patrick Gardner (Sr.-Merrick, N.Y.), with his 15 points, paced the SMU offense. Jacob Duniver (Fr.-Fredricksburg, Va.) contributed nine points and 10 boards in 24 minutes off the bench for the victors.

Duran "DJ" Alicea topped the royal-and-gold offense in the setback as the sophomore led all players with 16 points on the day. Shane Williams followed with 14 points of his own, complementing his team-best seven rebounds.

Georgian Court returns to campus to prepare for its 2021-22 home opener as the Lions host The College of Saint Rose this Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.