The New York University men's basketball team returned to the court for the first time in nearly three weeks and were defeated by Penn State Altoona 81-77 on Saturday, December 30, at the Sportsplex in Manhattan.

The Violets (6-3) hadn't played a game since December 12, when they defeated Hunter College 75-64.

NYU's rust showed early, as the Violets committed seven turnovers in the game's first 11 minutes and trailed 25-16. However, the hosts scored the next seven points to pull within two.

That was as close as they got in the first half, as the Lions (7-4) took a 12-point lead, 47-35, at halftime. 

Penn State Altoona's lead increased to 14 on the opening bucket of the second half, and they still led 65-51 when the Violets went on a 10-2 run and pulled within six, 67-61, on Ethan Feldman's two free throws with 7:36 remaining.

After falling behind by eight, NYU got within four, 71-67, on another pair of Feldman free throws with 5:26 left.

The Lions again opened an eight-point lead, and again the Violets responded. This time, Douglas Gertner's two free throws made it 77-74 and Ross Udine's three-pointer with 56 seconds left tied the score at 77. 

DeQuan Jackson's free throws gave Penn State Altoona a 79-77 lead with 33 seconds left, but Udine couldn't convert on a drive and Jalen Archie-Davis clinched the game for the Lions by hitting both of his free throws with 13 seconds remaining.
 
Udine finished with 16 points and a game-high six assists. Dom Cristiano led NYU with 17 points and 13 rebounds.

NOTABLE:

- The Violets had won their previous three games.

- Feldman, Jimmy Martinelli and Ted Georgiadis each had eight points for NYU. 

- The Lions' Ishimeal Nance led all scorers with 30 points, while Jackson finished with 21.
 
The Violets return to action on Thursday, January 4, when they ring in the New Year host Wheelock College. Tipoff at the Sportsplex is scheduled for 5:00pm.