WESTMINSTER, Md. — Senior Matt Kearney tied his career-high with 14 points off the bench to lead the McDaniel College men's basketball team in a 55-46 loss to Swarthmore on Saturday at the Gill Center. 
 
Kearney set his career-high in the team's conference opener on Jan.10, scoring 14 points off the bench in a loss to Franklin & Marshall.
  
The contest began with the Green Terror (10-4, 1-2) and Garnet (9-6, 3-0) exchanging leads through the first half, with both teams tied on four occasions. Swarthmore hit a fast-break 3-pointer at 15:57 to make the score 5-1, but McDaniel responded with back-to-back threes from sophomore Ashenafi Stuart and Kearney to take a 7-5 lead. Swarthmore broke a 14-14 tie with five straight points, growing the lead to eight with just over a minute left. A three-pointer from Stuart and a buzzer-beating jumper from Kearney cut the Green Terror deficit to 28-25 at the break.
 
Junior Ryan Shaffer scored the first basket of the second half to bring McDaniel within one, and free throws from junior Bruce Black made the score 30-29 with 18:23 to go. Swarthmore responded with an 11-0 run, highlighted by three consecutive three-pointers. Black later cut the deficit to eight but a four-point play from the Garnet at the 10:37 mark grew Swarthmore's lead to 45-33. The Green Terror closed the gap to seven late in the contest with another Black layup, but late free throws sealed a 55-46 win for the Garnet on the road.
 
Matt Kearney led the team with 14 points, converting 5 of 8 free throws and adding five rebounds. Senior David Kearney contributed defensively with two blocks and collected six rebounds. Black scored nine points and recorded six rebounds, enhancing the Green Terror's defensive presence. Stuart added seven points and secured five rebounds.
 
The Green Terror was led by a balanced scoring effort, but the Garnet's defense proved pivotal, forcing 13 turnovers and securing the victory. Despite the loss, McDaniel maintained competitive throughout, with the game featuring four ties and five lead changes.
 
McDaniel will travel to Front Royal, Va. on Monday to face Christendom in the team's final non-conference match of the season. Tip-off is set for 7 pm.