Fredericksburg, Va. – The Southern Virginia University men's basketball team suffered a tough defeat Tuesday night, falling to Mary Washington, 79-37, in a non-conference matchup. The loss drops the Knights to 4-2 on the season.

The Knights opened the game on a promising note, with Eli Ballstaedt and Tyler Kartchner sinking early free throws and Tillman Johnson adding a layup to give Southern Virginia a 6-2 lead. However, the Eagles took control seven minutes into the game and never looked back.

Turnovers plagued the Knights in the first half, with Southern Virginia committing 13 compared to just two for Mary Washington. The Eagles capitalized on the mistakes and went on a nine-point unanswered streak, creating a sizable lead as the Knights went cold from the field.

Despite shooting 93% from the free-throw line (14-15) and outrebounding the Eagles 22-14 in the first half, the Knights trailed significantly at halftime.

The second half proved even more challenging. The Eagles unleashed a 27-point unanswered run over a ten-minute stretch, as the Knights' turnovers mounted, finishing with 27 for the game—their most since 2019, when they recorded 35 against Albertus Magnus.

Southern Virginia managed just 11 points in the second half, while Mary Washington closed out the game with a commanding performance to secure the 79-37 victory.

The Knights aim to bounce back on Saturday, December 7, when they travel to face Eastern Mennonite University in a rematch.

Southern Virginia narrowly defeated the Royals in their first meeting this season, 77-76, and will look to return to their winning form. Tip-off is set for 1:00 PM.

For the most up-to-date information and details on the team, visit knightathletics.com and follow @knight_hoops on Instagram.