LAKELAND, Fla. – Saint Leo men's basketball opened play at the Century Retail Mocs Thanksgiving Classic on Friday evening, falling 87–78 to Bemidji State in a neutral-site non-conference matchup.

Senior Donovan Hill powered the Lions with a dominant performance, posting a team-high 27 points and 10 rebounds for his third double-double of the season. The Pennsylvania native knocked down three triples, and added two blocks and two steals while playing 38 minutes.

Senior Owen Pawlikowski finished with 19 points, six rebounds, and four assists on 6-for-13 shooting. Junior Luther Smith Jr. provided an additional spark off the bench with 11 points, while junior Elijah Harris filled the stat sheet with six points, six rebounds, and a game-high five steals.

Saint Leo battled back from multiple deficits in the first half to stay within striking distance before entering halftime trailing 47–35. The Lions opened the second half with energy, cutting the margin to single digits, however, the Beavers' shooting from beyond the arc halted a comeback from the Lions.

Saint Leo won the turnover battle 20–14 and converted those mistakes into 23 points, while also collecting 18 offensive rebounds that led to 23 second-chance points. Despite the effort on the glass, Saint Leo was unable to overcome Bemidji State's efficient shooting night (53.2% from the field).

The Lions conclude their appearance at the Mocs Thanksgiving Classic on Saturday as they are slated to face Winona State in a non-conference bout on Saturday, November 29 with tip-off scheduled for 5 p.m.