MORRISTOWN, N.J. – Penn College's fiery second half comeback fell just short at Saint Elizabeth in a 90-85 United East men's basketball final on Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats fell to 6-8 UE, 8-15 overall and remain 10th in the conference standings. The Eagles improved to 8-6, 10-13.

With just two regular-season games remaining, the Wildcats have clinched a top-12 spot in the United East playoffs for the second consecutive season. 
 
How it happened: Saint Elizabeth controlled all of the first half to take a 43-28 lead and led by as much as 24 (62-38) with 13:28 left in the second half before Penn College mounted its furious comeback. Livingston Cross led a 19-7 run with 10 points while DJ Smith III and Gavin Barrett combined for nine in the run to pull the Wildcats within nine points, 66-57 with nine minutes to go.

The Wildcats' hunt for the lead took eight more minutes before Donnie Bass Briscoe drive to the basket and gained the team's first lead, 82-81 with 1:06 remaining. The Eagles responded with a layup on the other end and hit 4-of-5 free throws to fend off the Wildcats.
 
Inside the box: Cross grabbed a career-high 23 rebounds and poured in 31 points for his 19^th double-double of the year. Smith III finished with 19 points, one shy of his career-best, and Barrett added 18 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals.

After shooting just 25% (9-35) in the first half, the Wildcats hit 56% (23-41) in the second half. SEU was led by two 20-point scorers in Tye-Rell Monroe (28) and Cam'Ron Martel (23).

Up next: Penn College hosts Rosemont on Tuesday in the Wildcats' home finale and senior day. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.