NEW YORK, N.Y. --- The Moravian College men's basketball opened the New York University Tip-Off Tournament at the Jerome S. Coles Sports Center in New York City Saturday evening, falling to the host Violets, 104-76.

Moravian placed two players in double figures with junior forward Brandon McGuire tossing in a team-high 21 points to go with six rebounds and a pair of assists while freshman guard Jimmy Murray added 14 points. Freshman forward Oneil Holder contributed nine points and four rebounds for the Greyhounds while junior guard Sean Hanna and sophomore guard Matt Cardonne each tossed in eight points.

Sophomore guard Khalil Rhett, junior guard Isaiah Jennings and freshman guard Jake McGee each scored four points while freshman guard Will Brazukas added four assists and pair of steals for Moravian.

Moravian jumped out to a 4-0 lead and was ahead 6-2 after a Jenning's lay-up 1:47 into action. NYU fought back to take a 17-12 lead but the Greyhounds answered with an 11-5 run to retake the lead, 23-22, with 11:30 left in the first half. The Violets moved back in front and led by as many as 10 points before a late first half run pull Moravian with within three points, 44-41, on a lay-up from Murray with 1:46 before the intermission. NYU headed to the locker room with a 49-43 advantage.

McGuire opened the second half with a lay-up as the Blue and Grey cut the deficit to four points but the Hounds would not score for the next four minutes as the Violets built a 16-point lead, 61-45. Moravian would get no closer the rest of the contest.

Moravian new up tempo, pressing style of play forced NYU into 19 turnovers while the Hounds committed just 15 turnovers, the second straight game that they have forced an opponent into more turnovers.

The Greyhounds will return to action on the second day of the NYU Tournament in the third place game on Sunday, November 22 at 5:00 p.m. at the Coles Sports Center.