MEADVILLE, Pa.- The Adrian College men's basketball team opened their regular season Friday night in the Greg Richards Memorial Tip-Off Tournament at Allegheny College. The Bulldogs debuted against John Carroll and dropped their season opener 69-55 to start off 0-1.

The first half started as a close contest as it saw three ties in the first seven minutes, and the Bulldogs erased an early four point deficit to take the lead, 11-10. This lead was kept as the game kept its back and forth theme through the first 10 minutes of play. John Carroll then left a 21-20 Adrian advantage in its rearview as it went on a 12-0 run to take a 32-21 lead and it would not forfeit this lead before the intermission. The Bulldogs trailed at the half 38-31.

The second half saw John Carroll maintain its lead throughout. Adrian could not overcome the deficit. The two teams traded five point runs, and the Bulldogs looked up at a double digit for nearly all 20 minutes.  The Bulldogs lost the second half by another seven point margin 31-24, and fell 69-55.

The Bulldogs were led on opening night by junior guard Eric Lewis who totaled 15 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Fellow junior guard Mitchell Small also played well for Adrian as he compiled nine points, seven rebounds, one assist, and one block coming off of the bench.

The Bulldogs will continue their play in Meadville, Pa. tomorrow, Saturday November 16 at 6 p.m. against the host school Allegheny College.