Salisbury, MD - The Bryn Athyn men's basketball team kicked off the 2014-15 season on the road at Optimist Tournament hosted by Salisbury University. The Lions enter the season with new expectations, now playing a full schedule of NCAA members and competing in the North Eastern Athletic Conference.

Coach Justin Baxter stated before the game, "We are very excited for the 2014-15 season. We have a good mix of players. Our sophmores got some great experience last yearand will help lead our new freshmen. We are going ot need everyone in the program if we want to accomplish our goals set this preseason." 

The Salisbury Optimist Tournament marked the first time these programs faced each other. The Seagulls finished 14-12 last season and 9-7 in the Capital Athletic Conference. 

The Lions traded shots with the Seagulls in the opening two minutes. Joe Kehoe would get the Lions on the board first with a 3 point shot from the outside off an assist from Troy Steed. After a jump shot from Steve Johnson, the Lions tied it at 5-5 to open the 1st half. The Seagulls jumped out to a 18-8 lead off of key Lion turnovers and shoot 100% from behind the three point line to build momentum. The Lions kept up their tight defense and looked to strike in transition. Austin Nyekan started some momentum for the Lions on a layup at 15:02. This started a 7-2 rally for the Lions causing the Seagulls to take a timeout at 14:04, with the score 20-15 in favor of Salisbury. Troy Steed continued to control the defensive key with multiple rebounds, but the Lions just couldn't quite capitalize in transition. The Seagulls held a nine point lead 27-18, with 7:34 to play in the 1st half. The teams traded shots to in a statistically balanced half for both teams. Joe Kehoe finished the 1st half shooting 4-5 from behind the arc and his 14 points lead the Lions.  The Seagulls headed into the locker room at halftime with a 44-36 lead. 

Bryn Athyn came out of the locker room on fire. Steve Johnson got the Lions started with a three pointer 12 seconds into the half. Following a missed layup by the Seagulls, Nyekan brought down the rebound and funnelled the ball to Carlos Perez for the easy layup. The Lions cut the margin to three. The two teams traded shots at both ends of the court through the opening five minutes of the second half. Salisbury maintained a ten point lead. 

Troy Steed looked to take control of the play at 13:06, by hitting a jumper to pull the Lions within seven. The Seagulls held the lead 59-52.

The intensity pick up in the final 10 minutes. James Flagg pulled down an offensive rebound and put the ball back up to pull the Lions within five, with six minutes to play. Nyekan made a three from a Kehoe rebound to cut the deficit to four points with three minutes remaining. Salisbury attempted to answer right back, driving down the court only to be denied by a Troy Steed block. Bryn Athyn did not go away and put the defensive pressure on. A late jumper by Kehoe cut the Seagulls lead to four, with one minute remaining. In the end, Salisbury held on to win 78-72. 

Bryn Athyn head coach, Justin Baxter, commented following the game, "I am proud of the way our guys competed today. We will look to build on some of the great things we did today." 

The Lions fall to 0-1 on the season and will face either Dickinson or University of Valley Forge tomorrow in the consolation game.