WATERBURY, Conn. – Sophomore guard Jojo Wallace led Southern New Hampshire University with 27 points on 13-for-20 shooting, accounting for nearly half of the Penmen made field goals, as Post University Men's Basketball dropped their fifth consecutive game of the season, 77-67, in their 2025-26 home opener on Sunday afternoon in the Drubner Center.

THE BASICS

Post University 67, Southern New Hampshire University 77

Post University (1-5)

Southern New Hampshire University (4-2)

HOW IT HAPPENED
As has been the case through now the last five games of the season, leads have come at a premium for the Eagles, seeing the score tied only four times throughout the afternoon and four lead changes, most of which would come at the start of the second half, as Wallace started the scoring in the first half with a layup to kick off a 5-0 run for the Penmen. Junior guard Ta'Quan Williams would help Post mount a responding 5-0 run, bringing the score even at five all, one of only two times in which it would be tied throughout the first half of play.

While the Southern New Hampshire lead would stretch to as many as 11 points with 5:01 remaining in the opening 20 minutes of play, Post would trim the deficit down to two by halftime, even tying the game at 37 all with 32 seconds left on a three from junior guard Zion Lott. Lott finished the first half with five points as seven different Eagles recorded points, led by junior forward Deng Akok with eight points on 4-for-6 shooting. On the other side, Wallace led the Penmen with 14 of his 27 points, going 7-for-11 from the field as Southern New Hampshire was 17-for-37 overall (45.9%), while hitting 2-of-8 (25%) of their threes and all three of their free throws. Post matched that effort as a team with a 14-for-30 showing (46.7%), connecting on 4-for-15 (26.7%) of their threes despite trailing by two, 39-37.

Akok would be the first Eagle to reach double-digit scoring with a layup to start the second half before the Eagles took their first lead of the game, 41-39, on a jumper from Lott with 19:27 to go in regulation. The last lead of the affair for the Eagles would come just moments later at the 18:46 mark when a three-ball by Lott countered junior forward Jahshawne Joseph's three, making it a 44-42 game, before the Penmen used an 8-0 run to take the lead for good. The lead would balloon to as many as 17 points on two separate occasions for Southern New Hampshire, before Post's offense looked to will themselves back into the contest down the stretch. 

Down 17 points, 68-51, with 6:43 remaining, a quick 6-0blitz by the Eagles brought them to within 11 points, and with two minutes left following a four-point play by Williams and free throws from graduate forward Gianni Thompson, the once double-digit deficit was cut down to just seven, 72-65. However, Joseph's layup and three points from Wallace in those final two minutes would ice the game for the Penmen, who held on for the 10-point road victory, 77-67, sending Post to their fifth consecutive loss.

Senior forward Ugo Nwachukwu, who came into Sunday's game averaging 21.1 points per game for the Penmen, was held off the score sheet entirely with no points on 0-for-1 shooting with five rebounds, four turnovers, and a steal. But in the absence of his offense, Wallace's 27 points were followed by 15 points from Joseph, while Williams and Akok led the Eagle offense with 13 points and 12 points, respectively, in the loss. 

BY THE NUMBERS 

• Ugo Nwachukwu, who entered the day averaging 21.0 points per game for Southern New Hampshire University, was held scoreless in 23 minutes of action, going 0-for-1 from the floor
• Post University is off to its first 1-5 start since the 2018-19 season, when it began the year 1-5, which included four non-conference losses
• At halftime this season, Post University falls to 0-4 when trailing while being 1-0 when leading, and 0-1 when tied at the break
• Southern New Hampshire University continues to own the all-time series against Post University, winning four consecutive games in the head-to-head series, while winning 13 of 14 overall

WHO'S NEXT
Back on the road, Post University faces the University of Bridgeport on Wednesday at 7:00 PM in a rematch of the 2025 CACC Championship Game from this past March. The Eagles had their five-game winning streak against the Purple Knights snapped with that 67-57 loss, which was played in Bridgeport.