PHILADELPHIA, Pa.- Lafayette concluded the 2023 Cathedral Classic with a 79-69 loss against Belmont on Sunday afternoon in the Palestra.

Lafayette's top performance came through All-Tournament Team honoree Devin Hines, who posted 17 points and grabbed three rebounds. The junior guard totaled 39 points during the Classic and has now scored in double figures during three games this season.

Belmont opened the scoring with a 6-0 spurt down to 16:25.

Hines woke up the Leopard offense, sinking back-to-back layups, still trailing 6-4, just a minute later (15:10). The West Palm Beach, Fla. native continued to score, recording a pair of 3-pointers and a layup by the 12-minute mark to steal the lead, 15-14.

Luka Savicevic and Justin Vander Baan combined for six points prior to Ryan Pettit's three free throws, to tie the game at 23 apiece at 6:52.

The Bruins powered ahead with a 15-5 run, holding a 38-28 advantage as both programs headed to the locker rooms for the break.

In the second half, the Leopards crept within five points of the Bruins thanks to Pettit, Hines and freshman Luke Rasmussen, 50-45, at 12:39.

A pair of 3-pointers and two free throws allowed Belmont a 58-50 lead, book-ended by Savicevic buckets (7:37).

The Bruins edged Lafayette in a 9-7 run to 3:33, 67-57, continuing to stay just out of reach. Cade Tyson netted five points during the run, adding to a team's best 19 points.

Lafayette hit four free throws to go along with a pair of 3-pointers, scored by Pettit and Rasmussen, yet it was not enough to close the gap in a 79-69 final.

Tyson led the Bruins, shooting 7-14 from the field and 50 percent on six attempts from the 3-point range.

Following Hines, three Leopards tallied a team second-best nine points: Pettit, Savicevic and Rasmussen.

Belmont out-rebounded Lafayette 39-29, including an 11-8 margin on the offensive glass. The Bruns shot 22-of-24 from the charity stripe compared to the Leopards' 11-of-14.

The Leopards invite the Drexel Dragons to Easton on Wednesday. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.
 

For the latest on the Lafayette College men's basketball program, follow the Leopards on X @LafayetteMBB and Instagram @lafayettembb.