Box Score

RALEIGH, N.C. – Tyre Gathright totaled 20 points, while Jquwan Ruffin added 20 points and four steals off the bench to help Saint Augustine's post a 77-65 victory over No. 15 East Stroudsburg University in the season opener for both teams on Saturday.

Senior Nick Giordano supplied a team-high 17 points for the Warriors on Day 1 of their weekend tournament at Shaw. He hit 6 of 12 field goal attempts overall, including 4 of 7 shots from 3-point range.

ESU led by as many as six points in the opening five minutes of the contest, but the Falcons recovered to take a 42-31 advantage into the intermission. Saint Augustine's kept its lead throughout the second half, maintaining a torrid shooting pace to overcome 23 turnovers.

The Falcons shot 55.6 percent from the field (30-54) and 66.7 percent from 3-point range (10-15) in the win. Their reserves also outscored ESU's by a 29-10 margin; Ruffin hit 7 of 10 attempts from the field and 3 of 4 shots from beyond the arc.

Redshirt senior Josh Williams joined Giordano in double figures for the Warriors, as he totaled 11 points and six rebounds in 27 minutes of game action. Freshman Ryan Smith chipped in nine points, nine rebounds and a pair of blocks in his collegiate debut, while redshirt senior Jakwan Jones had nine points and four steals.

The loss was the first regular season defeat for ESU since Jan. 31 last season, as the Warriors entered the 2017-18 postseason on a seven-game winning streak. They ultimately extended that run to 13 while claiming PSAC and Division II Atlantic Region championships.

ESU returns to action on Sunday, taking on host Shaw in a 4 p.m. matchup. The Bears, projected to finish first in the CIAA Southern division preseason poll, topped Mansfield by a 91-77 final in the other tournament game this afternoon.